Another chit fund scam, case against NEEDS

Proprietors absconding, employee arrested; CID, BIEO, Dispur police register separate cases

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 2: The Crimil Investigation Department (CID), Bureau of Investigation of Economic Offences (BIEO) and Dispur police have registered separate cases against the NGO North Eastern Economic Development Society (NEEDS) on charges of running a chit fund racket.

Dispur police have arrested an employee of the NGO, while the maging director Amar Dip Paul and director Aparupa Roy (Amar Dip's wife) are said to be absconding.

They are residents of Patharkandi in Karimganj district.

Official sources said that the NGO, the office of which is located at GMCH Road in the Christian Basti area of the city, was running a racket since 2011.

“They used to issue customer care cards which entitled the holders for certain discounts at select hospitals and stores,” a police official said. Moreover, they had published advertisements in newspapers announcing recruitment to posts like magers and senior magers.

“After selecting gullible people, they were given some sort of training. Then they were told that their jobs will be regularized if they can start a centre at district or block level,” the official said.

The NGO is said to have collected over Rs 20 crore from gullible people in the last four years of operation in Northeast.

Sources alleged that the MD of the NGO is close to AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and he was lobbying for a ticket from AIUDF from Patharkandi for the upcoming assembly elections.