2 of West Bengal gang nabbed for cheating thousands of youth

Two members of a West Bengal based gang, including a woman, who allegedly cheated thousands of youth across the country of several crores of Rupees in the name of offering dating sites and escort services were Tuesday arrested, police said here.

Sandeep Mitra and Neeta Shankar, who were managers at different branches set up by prime accused Debasish Mukherjee, were arrested, Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar told reporters.

They were arrested on a complaint by a local citizen, who was cheated of over Rs 15 lakh by the gang, he said.

Mukherjee, who is absconding along with two other members of the gang, established 20 call centres centres (12 at Siliguri and eight at Kolkata), he said.

"He created dating websites and lured youth in the name of providing girls and women for dating.

He appointed managers and team leaders at each branch and offered them commission on the basis of business done by each branch, along with salary," Sajjanar said.

Mukherjee posted advertisements for women escort service in dating websites and provided mobile numbers which would be attended by telecallers.

When a customers responded to the advertisements, the tele callers would call them on their mobile numbers and ask them to remit money into the company's bank accounts in the name of membership fee, club license fee, registration fee, service fee, GST, account verification fee, background verification fee and final payment fee.

After the amounts were paid, the tele callers would not respond to customer calls, Sajjanar said.

Over the past two-three years, the gang was suspected to have cheated thousands of people of "several crores of Rupees" through their modus operandi, the Commissioner added.

A further probe is on to nab the absconding accused, he said.