Kolkata, India: A shocking incident has come to light in Kolkata, where five personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), including an inspector and a female constable, have been arrested by the Bidhannagar Police for allegedly orchestrating a fake income tax raid. The arrests, which also include three civilian accomplices, have sent ripples of disbelief through the city, exposing a brazen act of impersonation and robbery.
The incident unfolded following a complaint filed by Binita Singh, a resident of Chinar Park, on March 18th. Ms. Singh reported that on the night of March 23rd, around 2 am, a group of six individuals forcibly entered her residence, falsely identifying themselves as Kolkata Police officers. Three of the intruders were reportedly in khaki uniforms, while the others were in plain clothes. According to the complaint, the group seized mobile phones from the occupants and security personnel before declaring themselves to be Income Tax (I-T) officials conducting a raid. They then proceeded to confiscate cash, gold, and CCTV footage from the premises before departing with a signed blank sheet of paper.
Singh’s suspicions were aroused when she contacted the Income Tax department and found no record of any such raid. This prompted her to approach the police, leading to a thorough investigation.
Investigation Uncovers Elaborate Scheme
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Airport Division), Aishwariya Sagar, provided details of the investigation during a press briefing. The police investigation, aided by CCTV footage, successfully identified two vehicles used in the commission of the crime – a pick-up van and a motorcycle. Acting swiftly, the police apprehended the driver of the pick-up van, which subsequently led to the arrests of the other suspects. Among those apprehended were an inspector from Farakka, Murshidabad, and four CISF personnel who were stationed at various locations across West Bengal. Notably, one of the arrested CISF personnel is Laxmi Kumari Chowdhury, a female constable deployed at the RG Kar Medical College.
Property Dispute Allegedly Fuelled the Crime
The motive behind the elaborate staged raid has been linked to a property dispute between Binita Singh and her stepmother, Arati Singh. Investigators have revealed that Arati Singh allegedly conspired with the CISF inspector to divide the ill-gotten gains from the robbery. Consequently, Arati Singh has also been taken into custody in connection with the case.
All five CISF personnel are currently in judicial custody as the investigation continues. A Test Identification (TI) parade has been scheduled for April 28th to formally identify the accused. The Bidhannagar Police are pursuing further leads to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy and identify any other individuals who may have been involved. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go and the importance of verifying official identities during any such operations.
