Kalyan Banerjee Loses Over ₹55 Lakh in Cyber Fraud Using Fake KYC

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Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing over ₹55 lakh from a long-dormant bank account. Cybercriminals allegedly accessed one of his inactive State Bank of India (SBI) accounts and used forged KYC (Know Your Customer) documents to carry out the fraudulent transactions. The SBI High Court branch in Kolkata has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station and demanded an immediate investigation.

How the Fraud Unfolded
According to the complaint, the fraudsters used Banerjee’s PAN and Aadhaar details but replaced his photograph with a different one. Using these forged documents, they updated the KYC details of his account. On October 28, 2025, the fraudsters even changed the mobile number linked to the account, gaining complete control.

Once they had access, multiple unauthorized transactions were carried out through internet banking. A total of ₹56,39,767 was withdrawn, transferred to various beneficiary accounts, spent on jewelry purchases, and withdrawn from ATMs.

An Account Dormant for Years
The account had been inactive for years. It was originally opened when Banerjee served as a Trinamool Congress MLA from Asansol (South) between 2001 and 2006, receiving his legislative salary there. Since then, the account remained dormant until the recent fraud. Banerjee, a former Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha, discovered the scam after noticing that ₹55 lakh had been transferred from his private SBI account in Kalighat to the dormant account and then withdrawn online.

Bank Informed and Investigation Underway
Upon discovering the fraud, Banerjee immediately alerted SBI officials. The bank has filed a cyber crime complaint and initiated an internal probe to determine if there were any procedural lapses. SBI has assured investigators full cooperation, providing all necessary documents, KYC records, and transaction details to track the fraudsters and the flow of money.

A senior officer from Kolkata Police’s Cyber Crime Division stated, “A thorough investigation is underway. We are examining the bank’s internal procedures and coordinating with authorities to understand how the account was accessed. Efforts are on to trace the perpetrators and the destination of the funds.”

Use of Fake KYC Highlights Security Risks
Police also revealed that the fraudsters completed the fake KYC process using a new mobile number and a different photograph, exposing potential vulnerabilities in digital banking verification systems. A senior Trinamool leader close to Banerjee said the MP is hopeful that the police will resolve the case promptly and help recover the lost funds.