Siliguri, Sept. 21 -- A Group C employee of Naxalbari Rural Hospital was arrested for allegedly forging the signatures of government officials and collecting Rs 17 lakh from a businessman on the pretext of arranging a lease of government land. His alleged associate, a tea seller, was also arrested in connection with the case.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gautam Dutta, an employee of Naxalbari Hospital and Subham Ghosh, his associate. Both are residents of the Siliguri Sub-Division area.
According to police sources, Gautam allegedly promised a businessman from Bagdogra that he would arrange a lease of government land for him. He reportedly forged the signatures of the District Magistrate (DM) and the Block Land and Land Revenue Officer (BLRO) to prepare and provide fake documents. The accused allegedly took Rs. 17 lakh from the businessman for the process.
However, after receiving the documents, the businessman visited the District Magistrate's office, where he reportedly discovered the alleged forgery. Subsequently, he lodged a complaint at Naxalbari Police Station.
Acting on the complaint, police arrested Gautam Dutta and Subham Ghosh in the wee hours of Monday. The accused were produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court on Monday afternoon.
Police sources said that several other individuals were also involved in the alleged fraud. An investigation is underway to determine whether the accused had supplied forged documents in other cases and carried out similar financial frauds.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.