Cyber fraud: Assam man arrested for stealing ₹56 lakh from TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee's account
Synopsis
Nearly a year after ₹56 lakh vanished from TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee's bank account, Kolkata Police have tracked the accused to Assam — a man who allegedly walked into a bank branch disguised as a lawyer, hijacked the account's registered number, and converted the stolen cash into gold. The MP got his money back; most ordinary victims would not.
Key Takeaways
Mokuleshar Reza was arrested from Rangapani, Assam by Kolkata Police's Cyber Crime division on 27 June 2025 .
The accused allegedly stole ₹56 lakh from the bank account of TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee in November 2024 .
Reza reportedly entered the Calcutta High Court branch of a state-owned bank disguised as a lawyer and changed the account's registered mobile number to gain control.
A large portion of the stolen money was allegedly used to purchase gold , which police are working to recover.
The state-owned bank had already reimbursed the ₹56 lakh to Kalyan Banerjee roughly a year ago.
Banerjee questioned whether a common citizen would have received the same reimbursement, and had also filed a complaint against the Centre over the incident.
Kolkata Police have arrested a man from Assam in connection with a ₹56 lakh cyber fraud targeting All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee, nearly a year after the theft was first reported. The accused, identified as Mokuleshar Reza, was nabbed from the Rangapani area of Assam by the Cyber Crime division of Kolkata Police on Friday, 27 June 2025, according to a senior police officer.
How the Fraud Was Executed
The incident reportedly took place in November 2024. According to police, Reza entered the Calcutta High Court branch of a state-owned bank disguised as a lawyer. He allegedly changed the registered mobile number linked to Kalyan Banerjee's bank account, thereby gaining full control over it. Once in control, he withdrew the entire sum of ₹56 lakh.
Investigators say a substantial portion of the stolen funds was used to purchase gold. Police are currently making efforts to recover the gold, and Reza is scheduled to be produced before a city court in Kolkata on Saturday, 28 June 2025.
Bank Reimbursed the MP
Notably, the state-owned bank had already reimbursed the full ₹56 lakh to Kalyan Banerjee approximately a year ago, shortly after the fraud came to light. The TMC MP confirmed at the time that the amount had been credited back to his account by the bank.
However, Banerjee raised a pointed question about the systemic vulnerability the incident exposed. He remarked that he may have received the refund because of his status as a Member of Parliament, expressing doubt over whether an ordinary citizen would have received the same treatment from the bank.
MP's Complaint and Political Angle
Following the fraud, Kalyan Banerjee also filed a complaint against the Centre, even as Kolkata Police separately launched a criminal investigation based on his complaint. The arrest, coming nearly a year after the fraud, marks a significant development in the case. As of Saturday, the TMC MP had not issued any official statement in response to the arrest.
Broader Concern Over Bank Cyber Security
This case highlights a growing pattern of fraud at bank branches, where physical impersonation is combined with digital access manipulation to bypass security protocols. The fact that the accused allegedly walked into a bank branch in disguise and changed account-linked credentials points to gaps in both physical verification and internal banking procedures. This is not an isolated incident — cyber fraud cases targeting high-profile individuals have risen sharply in recent years, even as digital banking penetration deepens across India.
Point of View
But the more uncomfortable story is what Kalyan Banerjee himself flagged: that his ₹56 lakh was returned because he is an MP. That admission inadvertently exposes a two-tier banking redress system — one for the politically connected, another for everyone else. The fraud method — physical impersonation inside a branch combined with a registered-number swap — also points to a systemic gap in KYC verification that banks have not adequately addressed despite years of rising cyber fraud incidents. An arrest a year later, after the money has already been converted into gold, raises its own questions about investigative timelines.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mokuleshar Reza and why was he arrested?
Mokuleshar Reza is the man arrested by Kolkata Police's Cyber Crime division from Rangapani in Assam on 27 June 2025. He is accused of stealing ₹56 lakh from the bank account of TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee in November 2024 by impersonating a lawyer at a bank branch and manipulating the account's registered mobile number.
How did the accused steal money from Kalyan Banerjee's bank account?
According to police, the accused entered the Calcutta High Court branch of a state-owned bank disguised as a lawyer. He allegedly changed the registered mobile number linked to Banerjee's account, took full control of it, and withdrew ₹56 lakh. A significant portion of the stolen funds was reportedly used to purchase gold.
Did Kalyan Banerjee get his money back?
Yes. The state-owned bank reimbursed the full ₹56 lakh to Kalyan Banerjee approximately a year ago, shortly after the fraud was reported. Banerjee himself noted that the refund may have been expedited because of his status as a Member of Parliament.
What action did Kalyan Banerjee take after the fraud?
Kalyan Banerjee filed a police complaint, which triggered the Kolkata Police investigation that led to the arrest. He also filed a complaint against the Centre over the incident. As of 28 June 2025, he had not issued an official response to the arrest.
What does this case reveal about bank security in India?
The case highlights a vulnerability where physical impersonation inside a bank branch, combined with digital credential manipulation, can bypass standard security checks. Banerjee's own remark — that ordinary citizens may not receive the same reimbursement — points to unequal redress mechanisms in the banking system.
