The Calcutta Police’s special investigation team arrested Kanchan Deb, a cousin of IAS impersonator Debanjan Deb, late on Monday night with officers saying the 37-year-old was at first an eager participant in the various fraud schemes run by Deb but later went on to cheat him.
Police are now trying to find out how and why Kanchan cheated his cousin.
Sarat Patra, a former assistant to a physician (now deceased) in the Taltala area, was also arrested on Monday night. Both Patra and Kanchan were scheduled to be produced in court later in the day.
During his stint with the physician, Patra had learnt to administer injections and dress wounds. That training was used by Deb while running his fake vaccine camps where Patra administered the fake doses.
Deb had organised two camps in Kasba and City College where vials of fake Covishield vaccines were given to unsuspecting users.
Over the years, Deb had also taken fancy to getting his name published in newspapers and being photographed with the political brass.
On receiving news of “adulterated petrol” being sold in Kasba near his office, Deb carried out a "search" while posing as aCalcutta Mniciapl Corporation and had his photographs carried in the next morning’s dailies. He also conducted an "election", where all his employees voted for him. He declared himself winner of the elections of West Bengal Employees Federation, which was published in some newspapers of Calcutta.
The police are trying to find if any such organisation exists in Bengal and whether Deb has any ties with it. “It is quite possible he just picked up a name and usurped it like his identity,” said a police officer.
On Monday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee broke her silence on the fake vaccine racket operating in the city.
“Those who play with people’s lives are worse than terrorists. I am surprised at his audacity. Such frauds go around clicking selfies with important people and use them elsewhere. Police and CMC cannot say they were unaware what was going on. The BJP could have provided support too,” Mamata said.
