Kolkata: Businessman in debt fakes theft to claim insurance money

KOLKATA: A businessman — neck-deep in debt — was arrested on Sunday after cops found he had faked a robbery at his own store to claim insurance money that would help him pay off his loans.
The incident was reported from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas where officers of Jibantala police station arrested Md Noor Ahmed Molla (35) after he had lodged the fake complaint on Thursday, alleging that thieves had broken into his mobile phone store and decamped with 30 expensive smartphones and Rs 10 lakh.The store is right next to the police station and cops immediately started a probe led by officer in-charge Subhas Ghosh. “We had doubts about Molla’s claims. He said the store’s CCTV cameras had broken down just two days before the robbery. Moreover, he had no record of the 30 cellphones and could not account for the Rs 10 lakh, which he claimed was stolen from the store After a detailed probe, he broke down and confessed to have faked the robbery,” said a senior officer.
Police said early on Thursday, Molla had himself ransacked the store and left some empty mobile phone boxes strewn on the floor. He then broke the shutter lock and raised a hue and cry alleging the robbery.
“We found that he had an outstanding debt of Rs 42 lakh and was being hounded by moneylenders. That’s what he ,” said the officer.