Siliguri, 29th April: Two individuals from Mathabhanga, identified as Ganesh Barman and Jaydeb Mahanta, were apprehended by a lottery businessman and subsequently handed over to the police for attempting fraud with a counterfeit lottery in Siliguri.
According to reports, the incident unfolded on Sunday evening near Circuit House in Champasari, when the duo presented a photocopy of a lottery ticket claiming a winning prize of Rs 10,000 to the lottery businessman. Sensing something amiss, the businessman scrutinized the lottery and realized its counterfeit nature. He promptly alerted the authorities, leading to the arrest of Barman and Mahanta by the police on charges of cheating.
Lottery businessmen in Siliguri have highlighted the prevalence of such fraudulent activities, with multiple groups attempting to swindle by presenting fake lottery tickets. Recently, three lottery traders allegedly fell victim to a similar scheme, losing Rs 40,000. The current incident, however, saw the perpetrators caught red-handed by the vigilant businessman.
Later, a written complaint has been lodged against both accused individuals at the police station. Following the apprehension, the accused have been presented before the Siliguri court for further legal proceedings. Currently the police are engaged in a thorough investigation to thwart similar fraudulent activities in the future.