Guwahati, Dec 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Mintu Das, also known as Rohit Chandra Das, the alleged mastermind behind a massive online trading fraud scam. The arrest was made on Tuesday in New Delhi, marking a significant development in the case.
Mintu Das, proprietor of the Indian Institute of Banking & Information Technology (IIBIT) in Guwahati, had been absconding since January. His arrest follows an FIR registered on September 4 under multiple sections of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, and other criminal codes.
Mintu Das lured victims into investing substantial sums through advertisements in newspapers, promising high dividends from risk-free stock market investments.
Initially, minimal dividends were paid to gain investors’ trust, but payments ceased soon after, with no returns on the principal amounts.
An FIR (No. 130/2024) was initially filed at Bhangagarh Police Station and later transferred to the CBI, which re-registered the case as RC-15/24, EO-III on October 14. The scam affected investors across Assam and other states.
Investigation revealed Das had no intention of honouring his commitments and even threatened complainants seeking legal remedies.
CBI investigators relied on digital evidence and inputs from reliable sources to track Mintu Das’s movements, leading to his arrest in New Delhi. He is currently being brought to Assam on transit remand and will be produced before a competent court.
The FIR includes charges under 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) of IPC and reads with Sections 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), and 23 of Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019.
