The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday said that it has conducted searches at 67 locations across seven cities in Rajasthan and Maharashtra in connection with the Rs 820 crore IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) payments scam involving UCO Bank.

Extensive search operations were carried out on March 6 including Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jalore, Nagaur, Barmer, and Phalodi in Rajasthan and Maharashtra’s Pune, the CBI said.

During these operations, approximately 130 incriminating documents related to UCO Bank and IDFC, as well as 43 digital devices including 40 mobile phones, 2 hard disks, and 1 internet dongle, were seized for forensic analysis, the central agency added. Additionally, 30 suspects were also found and examined on the spot, CBI further added.

According to reports, 41,296 bank accounts were used to siphon off 820 crore through 8,53,049 transactions across 35 States and UTs, in just 72 hours.

In 2023, between November 10-13, Rs 820 crore was wrongfully transferred to the accounts of over 41,000 UCO Bank account holders through 8,53,049 IMPS transactions.

A CBI spokesperson said that the IMPS inward transactions initiated from around 14,600 account holders of seven private banks were wrongfully posted in the accounts of over 41,000 UCO Bank account holders, resulting in Rs 820 crore being credited to UCO Bank accounts without actual debiting from the originating banks.

CBI said that it has conducted searches on people who received the money and did not return it to the bank. Notably, this was the second round of searches in the case.

In 2023, CBI conducted searches at 13 locations involving private individuals and UCO Bank officials in Kolkata and Mangalore, as per the reports.

In November 2023, CBI registered a case on a complaint from UCO Bank. The bank in its complaint, alleged that between November 10-13, the IMPS inward transactions from around 14,600 account holders of seven private banks were wrongfully credited in the accounts of over 41,000 UCO Bank account holders.

The report further suggests, quoting CBI sources, that this is a well-coordinated, large-scale organised crime.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that West Bengal is the only State where women are safe. Her statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Trinamool Congress over the raging Sandeshkhali issue.

Addressing the TMC Mahila Wing Rally in Kolkata, she responded to the BJP leaders who said that women are being tortured in Bengal saying, women are the safest in Bengal.

Hitting out at PM Modi, Banerjee asked where was he when women were paraded naked in Manipur and when a woman was raped and her body forcibly cremated in Hathras. She reminded Bilkis Bano’s case too.

TMC supremo also reacted on the former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijt Gangopadhyay joining the BJP. A BJP babu was sitting on the bench and he joined the BJP, she added. The Chief Minister wondered how can people expect justice from the judge who joined the BJP today.

The women from Sandeshkhali island, who made the serious allegation against the local TMC leaders, also participated in the rally organised by the party. The rally was based on the theme of Mahilader Adhikar, Amader Angikar (women’s rights, our commitment).

Several TMC leaders including Sushmita Dev, Shashi Panja and the party’s newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP and journalist Sagarika Ghose joined the foot march led by CM Banerjee. CM Banerjee’s nephew and TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was also seen at the rally. 

Notably, every year, Banerjee leads a march of women to mark International Women’s Day on March 8 but this time the rally was held on March 7. The reason behind the date change is Shiv Ratri, which will be celebrated on March 8.

On Wednesday, PM Modi slammed the Banerjee-led TMC over the Sandeshkhali incident and said the State government has been putting their efforts into protecting the accused of the people of Bengal.

Former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of State party chief Sukanta Majumdar, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari and others in Kolkata.

After joining the party, Gangopadhyay said he has entered into a new world where people like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders are present. He promised to shoulder whatever responsibility the party would give him. He was overwhelmed by the way the party welcomed him and everyone knows corruption is to be fought.

On being asked about the Sandeshkhali incident, he called it a horrible incident and said the State leaders had gone there. Despite being prevented from entering the village, they went there and stood beside the women. He further said that the BJP has been taking up the cause of oppressed people in Sandeshkhali.

On his joining, the State party chief Majumdar welcomed Gangopadhyay to the BJP. Praising the former HC judge, he hoped that the way Gangopadhyay has worked as a Justice in the Calcutta High Court for deprived, exploited victims of Bengal, the former judge will carry forward that work with the leadership of the BJP.

The former HC judge handed over his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, along with copies to CJI DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam on March 5.

There has been speculation that Gangopadhyay may fight for the Tamluk seat from West Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The 62-year-old Gangopadhay started his term as an additional judge at the high court in 2018. He was later appointed as a permanent judge in July 2020. After serving for almost five years, he is set to retire in three months. Almost a decade ago, he shifted from a career in the West Bengal Civil Service to practising law.

Throughout his career, which spans almost four decades, Gangopadhyay has had a confrontation with a senior judge who overruled his order.