Crime Branch nabs Assam man for allegedly duping bank of ₹27 crore

The Crime Branch (CB) has arrested a man from Assam for allegedly defrauding a Kerala-based bank of ₹27 crore through an online credit card scam. The accused, Sirajul Islam, 32, of Lahorighat in Assam’s Morigaon district, was arrested by the CB’s Economic Offences Wing here on October 17 with the help of the Assam Police.

The case was registered in 2023 on a complaint filed by the bank. The bank noticed the alleged fraud when a customer reported receiving a credit card he had never applied for.

According to the police, Sirajul used to run a shop assisting people with Aadhaar and PAN card services and exploited data of his customers to orchestrate the scam.

Sirajul’s younger brother, Sheriful Islam, who is suspected to have played a role in the fraud, is on the run.

The case was registered by the Ernakulam Central Police before it was handed over to the Crime Branch.

The accused was brought to Kochi and produced before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Wednesday. He was remanded in judicial custody.