In a shocking case of cyber fraud, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee has claimed that scammers stole ₹57 lakh from his State Bank of India (SBI) account. The MP alleged that the fraudsters used fake documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards, to reactivate his dormant account and siphon off the funds.
The Kolkata Police’s cybercrime division has launched a probe into the matter after receiving a formal complaint from SBI’s Legislative Assembly branch.
Old Account Misused by Fraudsters
The fraud took place through an account that Banerjee had opened when he served as an MLA from Asansol South between 2001 and 2006. His salary as an MLA was deposited into this account.
According to reports, the account had remained inactive for several years after Banerjee became the MP from Serampore. The funds, amounting to ₹57 lakh, were lying untouched until the scam came to light.
Banerjee said he came to know about the fraud when the branch manager informed him about suspicious transactions.
Fraudsters Used Fake IDs and Added a New Phone Number
Banerjee said the miscreants used fake Aadhaar and PAN cards with his photo superimposed to reactivate the account. They also allegedly added a new mobile number, which gave them access to OTP messages and transaction alerts.
“It is quite shocking… The account was opened when I was Asansol South MLA and remained dormant for several years after I became Serampore MP,” Banerjee told PTI.
“The criminals transferred ₹57 lakh from my account. If this can happen to an MP, what will be the condition of a common man? How come these people found out that I had such a significant amount of money in my account?”
Banerjee questioned how the bank’s verification process failed to detect the fraudulent activation.
Money Spent on Jewellery, Withdrawn Through ATMs
According to a News18 report, the stolen money was transferred to multiple beneficiary accounts. The funds were allegedly used to purchase jewellery and were also withdrawn through ATMs in small amounts to avoid detection.
Investigators suspect that the scammers may have been part of a larger network involved in identity theft and bank fraud.
Police Launch Investigation
A senior officer of Kolkata Police confirmed that an FIR has been registered, and the cybercrime division is tracking the transaction trail.
“The investigation in the case is ongoing. We are going through all the transactions and account details,” the officer said.
So far, no arrests have been made. Police are trying to trace the beneficiary accounts and the locations where the withdrawals took place.
Bank Promises Full Cooperation
SBI officials have also filed a formal complaint and assured full cooperation with the ongoing police probe. They are examining how the dormant account was reactivated despite security checks and KYC requirements.
Cyber experts say such frauds are becoming increasingly common as criminals use fake biometric IDs and cloned documents to bypass verification systems.
