Agartala: Four persons, including a husband-wife duo employed in the Tripura Police, have been arrested in connection with an alleged financial fraud case that surfaced after videos showing large quantities of cash circulated widely on social media, police officials said on Tuesday.
Police said separate cases were registered at Salema Police Station in Dhalai district and West Agartala Police Station following allegations that an organised and influential racket had collected money from several individuals by promising unusually high financial returns.
Senior officials said two police personnel were also suspended after the allegations surfaced in order to facilitate an impartial inquiry into the matter.
The investigation began after a police official lodged a complaint at Salema Police Station alleging that he had invested around Rs 65 lakh after being promised high returns, but did not receive the promised amount after the maturity period. The complainant also accused the suspects of intimidation and threats.
The matter drew widespread attention after a video allegedly showing two women sitting beside bundles of cash went viral on May 16. Another photograph that surfaced later purportedly showed a TSR trooper packing currency notes into bags.
Following the circulation of the visuals, police initiated a probe and carried out raids, during which cash was recovered from the residence of a TSR trooper in Dhalai district. He was subsequently suspended.
Police arrested TSR trooper Ajit Debbarma and his wife Menaka Debbarma, a police constable, on May 18. Both are residents of Teliamura.
Salema Police Station officer-in-charge Dipak Das said the accused were produced before a court with a request for 10 days' police remand. The court granted eight days' remand for custodial interrogation.
Das said notices were also being issued to several persons suspected to have links with the alleged network or to have invested money in the scheme.
In a separate case registered at West Agartala Police Station, police arrested Sanjana Debbarma and Nandurani Debbarma from Dhalai district on Tuesday. Sanjana Debbarma is the wife of another suspended police constable, while Nandurani Debbarma works as an optometric assistant.
West Agartala Police Station officer-in-charge Rana Chatterjee said both the accused were produced before the court.
Police officials said the total amount allegedly collected through the scheme was yet to be ascertained, and further investigation was underway to identify others possibly connected to the operation.
Sources in the police department said Director General of Police Anurag had directed senior officials to conduct a detailed inquiry and take strict action against all those involved.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper, Deputy Inspector General (Northern Range) Rati Ranjan Debnath, and Dhalai Superintendent of Police Rushikesh Jaysing Desai are supervising the investigation.
Police are also examining whether the seized money has any connection with other illegal activities, including narcotics-related offences.
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