Assam Officer Held for Using Mimics to Fake CM's Voice in Crore-Rupee Scam
Assam govt official Debeswar Sharma arrested for allegedly using mimicry artists to impersonate the CM and others in a multi-crore cheating case.
A senior Assam government official has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a multi-crore cheating racket that used mimicry artists to impersonate the Chief Minister and other top bureaucrats. The accused, Debeswar Sharma, was taken into custody by the Chief Minister's Special Vigilance Cell, which has been probing the case since late May.
The investigation began after a businessman filed a complaint on May 30, claiming he was cheated of Rs 10 lakh. The complainant said Sharma promised him a government contract in exchange for the money, and later demanded an additional Rs 40 lakh. When the businessman grew suspicious and asked for a refund, he was allegedly ignored.
Probing the financial trail, investigators found that the money was deposited into an account linked to a business house in Arunachal Pradesh. Two other firms, KK Enterprise and DB Enterprise, later came forward with similar complaints, claiming they had lost around Rs 2.5 crore to the same promise of government contracts.
The alleged modus operandi was uncovered during the probe. Sharma would reportedly make calls in front of his victims, purportedly to senior officials. On the other end, a mimicry artist or a member of his team would respond, imitating the voices of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, or other senior functionaries. The victims, convinced they were speaking with genuine authorities, believed their contracts would be cleared.
Investigators have recovered around 18 SIM cards, only one of which was registered in Sharma's name. The others were reportedly procured through third parties to avoid detection. Officials have called the impersonation of the Chief Minister a very dangerous crime and noted that the legal implications are serious.
Several incriminating documents have been seized from Sharma's residences and office in Dhemaji and Guwahati. The total amount involved is still being calculated with the help of chartered accountants, with officials stating the figure has already crossed crores. The Vigilance Cell has also received complaints from outside Assam, and the investigation is now focused on the money trail and the wider network behind the operation.