Rs 2,200 crore online trading scam: Assamese actress Sumi Borah seeks bail in CBI court

Guwahati: In a recent development, Assamese actress Sumi Borah, who has been jailed in connection with a major online trading scam, appeared before the CBI court on Wednesday to seek bail. However, the court has decided to postpone the hearing of her bail plea until the next session.

Along with Sumi Borah, her husband, Tarkik Borah, who is also accused in the case, has submitted a bail application. Both were sent to judicial custody last week after the CBI decided not to seek their further detention.

Meanwhile, Amlan Borah, Sumi’s brother-in-law, was granted bail. The CBI did not oppose his bail plea, and he was released after furnishing a bail bond.

Earlier custody and ongoing investigation

Before being sent to judicial custody, Sumi Borah and her husband were in CBI custody for seven days. They had been detained along with Bishal Phukan, the alleged kingpin of the multi-crore online trading scam. According to sources, the CBI is still gathering information from Sumi Borah and may apply for an extension of her custody in the coming days.

The CBI is investigating the vast online trading fraud, which is believed to have involved hundreds of victims across the region. The actress is reportedly providing crucial details to the authorities about the scam's operations and its connections.

State government hands over 41 cases to CBI

The Assam government has transferred 41 cases related to the scam to the CBI, with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police providing key information to assist in the probe. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously announced that the CBI would take over these cases, following the shocking exposure of the scam.

“We have filed 41 cases against the online trading fraudsters. The state government decided to hand over all of these cases to the CBI. I spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah about this, and he agreed to let the CBI probe the scam. I went to Delhi to apprise him about the latest development,” he had said.

Scam worth Rs 2,200 crore

The online trading scam, which was uncovered in September, is valued at an astounding Rs 2,200 crore. The central investigation agency's probe began after Bishal Phukan, the main accused, was arrested from his home in Dibrugarh.

Sumi Borah and her husband Tarkik Borah had been on the run following the revelation of the scam, but they eventually surrendered to the police in Dibrugarh. The couple's involvement in the scam has raised questions, particularly given their alleged ties with Phukan, the mastermind behind the fraudulent trading network.

Agency