NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday revealed that his suspicions about a man who wanted to donate Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund led to the discovery of a multi-crore online trading scam . Sarma explained that his doubts prompted an investigation, which eventually exposed the scam involving substantial financial misconduct and arrest of actress Sumi Bora and her husband.
"When a youth came to donate Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, I had doubts. I asked the officers to find out what he does and that is how the online trading scam came to light," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
"Attacking the person who brought the scam to light means giving 'vitamin' to those indulging in these crimes," he added.
Despite his government's efforts in cracking the case and arresting those involved, Sarma claimed that they were being unfairly targeted by the opposition parties.
He said that those involved in the scam were made "heroes" by social media influencers, but "why is it now being made political by attacking me?"
The chief minister also dismissed allegations that the eviction drive at Sonpur in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district was launched to divert attention from the scam. He questioned why he was being attacked politically when those involved in the scam were being portrayed as "heroes" by social media influencers.
Sarma also ordered an inquiry into how actress Sumi Bora and her husband Tarkik Bora, who were apprehended in connection with the scam, were taken to a luxury hotel by the police after being detained in Dibrugarh. He expressed concern over the relationship between the police and journalists, stating that "the arrested duo should have been in lock-up but they were giving interviews."
Sarma also claimed that social media influencers linked to the scam had been constantly attacking the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls.
When asked about the absconding accused Deepankar Barman, Sarma said that the police were searching for him.
Assamese actress, choreographer and social media influencer Sumi Bora and her husband were were detained by the Special Task Force Thursday in Dibrugarh.
A lookout notice was issued against the couple and four others after they failed to appear before the police following a notice issued to them in the wake of the arrest of the prime accused, 22-year-old Bishal Phukan in the case.
The scam involves firms, mostly promoted by individuals in their 20s, allegedly raising hundreds of crores of rupees from people by promising huge returns on investments in the stock markets. However, these firms have recently failed to repay investors. So far, over 65 people have been arrested in connection with the scam, and 14 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been set up to investigate 28 cases registered across districts under the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
"When a youth came to donate Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, I had doubts. I asked the officers to find out what he does and that is how the online trading scam came to light," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
"Attacking the person who brought the scam to light means giving 'vitamin' to those indulging in these crimes," he added.
Despite his government's efforts in cracking the case and arresting those involved, Sarma claimed that they were being unfairly targeted by the opposition parties.
He said that those involved in the scam were made "heroes" by social media influencers, but "why is it now being made political by attacking me?"
The chief minister also dismissed allegations that the eviction drive at Sonpur in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district was launched to divert attention from the scam. He questioned why he was being attacked politically when those involved in the scam were being portrayed as "heroes" by social media influencers.
Sarma also ordered an inquiry into how actress Sumi Bora and her husband Tarkik Bora, who were apprehended in connection with the scam, were taken to a luxury hotel by the police after being detained in Dibrugarh. He expressed concern over the relationship between the police and journalists, stating that "the arrested duo should have been in lock-up but they were giving interviews."
Sarma also claimed that social media influencers linked to the scam had been constantly attacking the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls.
When asked about the absconding accused Deepankar Barman, Sarma said that the police were searching for him.
Assamese actress, choreographer and social media influencer Sumi Bora and her husband were were detained by the Special Task Force Thursday in Dibrugarh.
A lookout notice was issued against the couple and four others after they failed to appear before the police following a notice issued to them in the wake of the arrest of the prime accused, 22-year-old Bishal Phukan in the case.
The scam involves firms, mostly promoted by individuals in their 20s, allegedly raising hundreds of crores of rupees from people by promising huge returns on investments in the stock markets. However, these firms have recently failed to repay investors. So far, over 65 people have been arrested in connection with the scam, and 14 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been set up to investigate 28 cases registered across districts under the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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