In Noida, following the discovery of a fake 'international embassy', police have now arrested six people from West Bengal accused of operating a fraudulent international police agency. The masterminds behind this elaborate plot, resembling a Bollywood thriller, are the father-son duo, Bibhas Chandra Adhikari and Arghya Adhikari.
Two organizations, cleverly named to mirror genuine police agencies, were at the heart of this con. One was named the International Police and Crime Investigation Bureau, and the other, the National Bureau of Social Investigation and Social Justice. Their scheme involved extorting money from people facing accusations of crime or corruption. The gang issued summons and called the victims to their offices in Kolkata and Noida. Their Noida operation was a recent rollout.
A Cocktail of Influence
In his traditional white dhoti-kurta and a moustache akin to Sunil Dutt from the film 'Padosan', Bibhas Chandra Adhikari curated the image of a quintessential Bengali gentleman. According to his social media profiles, he offered religious sermons in his 'ashram' in Krishnapur, Birbhum district. He ran a college, participated in social events, and mingled with top leaders from Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP.
Source: aajtak
In Birbhum, Bibhas owned several institutions, including an Ayurvedic college, an Ayurvedic medicine factory, a B.Ed. college, a D.Ed. college, and a nursing college.
During a raid by Uttar Pradesh Police, fake documents, stamps, and website contents boasting global presence were confiscated. Their website claimed offices in the UK and USA. As per a statement from UP Police, the gang purported ties with Interpol, the International Human Rights Commission, 'Eurasia Pol', and 'Asia Pol'. The organization even professed to have offices in every state across India.
Their smartly devised fake documents lent legitimacy to every assertion. For instance, a counterfeit organization issued letters granting 'permission' to distribute car stickers, badges, nameplates, and press cards upon 'verification of all documents'.
Source: aajtak
The website boasted affiliations with several ministries, including the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the Ministry of AYUSH. The International Police and Crime Investigation Bureau's website depicted former Calcutta High Court Judge and ex-IPS officer and BJP leader Debashish Dhar as an official.
Source: aajtak
Images showcased Arghya posing with escort cars flashing blue lights and armed bodyguards.
Political Journey
Until a few years ago, Bibhas Adhikari served as the TMC's Nalhati Block President in Birbhum. However, his association with a teacher recruitment scam led TMC to distance itself from him.
Source: aajtak
During the investigation into this scam, Bibhas' 'ashram' was raided, and he was interrogated for hours by the CBI and ED. Eventually, he parted ways with TMC to form a political outfit named the All India Arya Mahasabha, fielding seven candidates in the last Panchayat elections. Bibhas' rallies and speeches have been prominently shared on Arghya's Facebook page.
Source: aajtak
On social media, Bibhas and Arghya have unabashedly highlighted their political connections. Their images with prominent figures like former AYUSH Minister Shripad Yesso Naik, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Delhi's Minister Kapil Mishra, TMC leader Anubrata Mandal, and TMC MP Satabdi Roy are noteworthy.
In his hometown, allegations of extortion surround Bibhas. Local police reported an incident where he was stopped in a car with a blue beacon but was merely warned to remove the light before being let go.
