Frauds posing as ACC men warned of tough action

FE Report

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has warned of tough action against those resorting to fraudulent activities identifying themselves as officials of the anti-graft watchdog.

"We have received a lot of complaints that some people used the ACC's name and asked for unlawful benefits," ACC Deputy Director Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told the FE.

He said the commission learnt that a number of gangs of criminals were involved in such cheating.

"They threaten to implicate people in corruption to extort money or offer to drop their names from graft cases in exchange for bribes," he said.

"ACC has decided to take stern action against those criminals," he said. The commission had already informed law enforcers of it, he added.

The ACC also issued a public statement asking people to inform police if anyone poses as an ACC official and demands money threatening to implicate them in corruption.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the anti-graft body said a gang of frauds was cheating people introducing themselves as officials of the ACC.

"The frauds threatened government officials, businessmen and others over phone that they (the latter) would face graft inquiries if money is not paid," said the press release.

The ACC said many people already became victims of such cheating and provided money to the frauds.

It said when the ACC decided to conduct probe into any graft allegation, it formally informs the suspect.

"So if anybody comes to any citizen without any official correspondence, s/he must complain to law enforcers," it added.

bdsmile@gmail.com