In a major crackdown on financial crimes involving political figures, Kolkata Police have arrested Bihar politician Rajeev Ranjan Kumar for allegedly defrauding a retired Calcutta High Court judge of ₹4.49 crore and attempting to sell property worth ₹1 crore using forged ownership documents.
The accused, who was reportedly gearing up to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections from Vibhutipur constituency, was detained by the Vidhan Nagar Police Intelligence Unit from his rented residence in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Key Highlights
◆Two FIRs filed against Rajeev Ranjan Kumar in September 2025.
◆Accused of cheating retired Justice Indrajit Chatterjee through fake investment schemes.
◆Attempted sale of Salt Lake property using forged documents.
◆Booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 Sections 316 (Cheating), 318 (Forgery), 319 (Using forged documents), and 120 (Criminal Conspiracy).
◆Currently in judicial custody; police probe into larger fraud network underway.
Fraud and Forgery Case Details
According to the first FIR lodged on September 7, Kumar lured Justice (Retd.) Indrajit Chatterjee into an investment scheme promising high returns and later misappropriated ₹4.49 crore.
A second FIR filed on September 14 alleged that Kumar used forged land documents to illegally claim ownership of a property in Salt Lake’s CD Block, valued at approximately ₹1 crore. Investigators believe Kumar intended to sell the property using falsified papers and manipulated land registry data.
Police officials produced Kumar before a local court and have secured judicial custody to continue investigations into possible accomplices and hidden assets.
Political Profile and Network
Rajeev Ranjan Kumar, a resident of Vibhutipur in Bihar’s Samastipur district, contested the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket but lost. Post-defeat, he shifted base to Kolkata and allegedly started real estate and investment ventures, which now appear to have been fronts for large-scale fraud.
Investigators suspect that Kumar leveraged his political connections to gain trust and attract investors. Police are exploring his alleged links in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, suggesting a wider inter-state fraud network.
Police Statement
A senior Vidhan Nagar Police officer told reporters:
“This is not an isolated case. The accused operated a well-organized financial racket using fake documents and political influence. Several individuals may be complicit in the fraud, and we are tracing his financial transactions across states.”
Authorities have frozen multiple bank accounts, seized electronic gadgets, and obtained property transaction records as part of the investigation.
Legal Impact Under BNS, 2023
The case, registered under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), marks one of the first high-profile political fraud cases to be tried under the revamped criminal code. Legal experts state that convictions under Sections 316, 318, 319, and 120 can lead to long-term imprisonment, heavy fines, and asset forfeiture.
The BNS aims to ensure swift justice in financial and organized crimes while enhancing accountability, especially for public figures misusing influence for personal gain.
A Wake-Up Call for Political Accountability
The arrest of Rajeev Ranjan Kumar sends a clear message: financial fraud under political disguise will invite stringent legal action. With cyber and forensic audits now underway, police believe more names could surface as part of the ongoing probe.
As India transitions to the BNS legal framework, this case serves as a precedent — proving that no individual, regardless of position or power, stands above the law.
