Kolkata Police staffer arrested for ₹51 lakh embezzlement via 112 fake bills
Synopsis
A Kolkata Police office insider allegedly ran a four-year billing fraud worth ₹51 lakh — generating 112 fake invoices, deleting legitimate contractor records from the HRMS system, and routing public funds to his own and his mother's bank accounts. The scheme only unravelled after a government change prompted a fresh look at the books.
Key Takeaways
Pulakendu Ghosh , an Upper Division Assistant at the DC (East Division) office of Kolkata Police, was arrested on Sunday, 6 July .
He allegedly embezzled over ₹51 lakh using 112 forged bills between 2022 and 2026 .
More than ₹40 lakh was credited to his own account via 88 fake bills ; over ₹10 lakh went to his mother's account via 24 bills .
Ghosh allegedly deleted original contractor records from the HRMS system and replaced them with his own banking details.
Representatives of four contracting companies confirmed they never received the payments owed to them.
A formal probe was ordered by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) and conducted from 15 to 30 June .
A government employee posted at the Deputy Commissioner (East Division) office of Kolkata Police has been arrested for allegedly embezzling over ₹51 lakh in public funds through 112 forged bills over a period of four years, a senior police officer confirmed on Monday, 6 July. The accused, Pulakendu Ghosh, an Upper Division Assistant, was taken into custody on Sunday following a probe ordered by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
According to Kolkata Police, Ghosh allegedly generated 112 fake bills between 2022 and 2026, diverting payments meant for legitimate contractors and suppliers into bank accounts held by himself and his mother. Of the total amount, more than ₹40 lakh was reportedly credited to his own account through 88 forged bills, while the remaining 24 fake bills were used to route over ₹10 lakh to an account in his mother's name.
Ghosh was responsible for preparing bills for contractors and various suppliers — a position that allegedly gave him unchecked access to the billing system. Police say he exploited this role to fabricate invoices and have them cleared over four years without detection.
Database Tampering and Cover-Up
Investigators allege that Ghosh went beyond forging bills — he also deleted the original contractor and supplier records from the HRMS system, where legitimate bank account details were stored. He then allegedly replaced those entries with his own account details and his mother's, effectively erasing the digital trail. Fake documents and forged stamps were reportedly used to facilitate the scheme.
Police recovered several fake bills during the investigation. Notably, colleagues rarely questioned Ghosh, according to police sources, citing his senior position within the office.
How the Case Came to Light
A complaint regarding the financial irregularities was received at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters, after a change in government. Last month, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) ordered a formal inquiry. A dedicated police team investigated the matter from 15 June to 30 June, on the instructions of the DC (East Division). Based on the findings, Lalbazar filed a complaint with Anandapur Police Station in East Kolkata, leading to Ghosh's arrest.
Contractor Testimonies and Admissions
During the investigation, representatives of four contracting companies informed investigators that payments owed to them had never been received. Subsequent verification allegedly confirmed that those funds had instead been credited to accounts linked to Ghosh and his mother. During interrogation, Ghosh reportedly admitted to the offence, according to police sources.
What Happens Next
Police have recovered multiple fake bills as part of the ongoing probe. Investigators are also examining the full extent of database tampering in the HRMS system, which could reveal additional irregularities. The case underscores systemic vulnerabilities in internal financial oversight within government offices, and authorities are expected to review billing and payment protocols at other police division offices as well.
Point of View
Deleted audit trails from a government HR system, and redirected public money to family accounts, all without triggering any internal alert. The fraud only surfaced after a political transition prompted a fresh review, which raises an uncomfortable question: how many similar schemes persist in offices where no such external prompt arrives? Internal financial controls in police administrative wings appear to be alarmingly thin, and the HRMS tampering suggests digital safeguards are either absent or easily circumvented by insiders.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pulakendu Ghosh and what is he accused of?
Pulakendu Ghosh is an Upper Division Assistant posted at the Deputy Commissioner (East Division) office of Kolkata Police. He was arrested on Sunday, 6 July, for allegedly embezzling over ₹51 lakh in public funds by generating 112 fake bills between 2022 and 2026 and diverting the money to his own and his mother's bank accounts.
How did Pulakendu Ghosh allegedly carry out the fraud?
Ghosh allegedly exploited his role as the official responsible for preparing contractor and supplier bills. He generated forged invoices, had them cleared, and diverted payments to personal accounts. He also reportedly deleted original contractor records from the HRMS system and replaced them with his own banking details to cover his tracks.
How was the embezzlement discovered?
A complaint was received at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters, after a change in government. The Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) ordered an investigation, which was conducted between 15 and 30 June. The findings led to a formal complaint at Anandapur Police Station and Ghosh's subsequent arrest.
Were the defrauded contractors able to recover their money?
Representatives of four contracting companies confirmed during the investigation that payments due to them had never been received. Verification showed the funds had instead been credited to accounts linked to Ghosh and his mother. Recovery of the diverted funds is part of the ongoing investigation.
What charges is Ghosh likely to face?
While specific charges have not been publicly detailed, the alleged offences — fabricating government documents, tampering with an official database, and misappropriating public funds — typically attract provisions under fraud, forgery, and criminal breach of trust statutes. The investigation is ongoing.
