A national award-winning elderly farmer from West Bengal has allegedly lost Rs 83,244 in a cyber fraud incident after his mobile phone went missing, leaving him struggling to recover his lifetime savings. Shailen Chandi, known for promoting sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices, has claimed that despite approaching the police, Cyber Crime Department, and bank authorities for more than three and a half months, he has received no resolution or recovery of the lost funds.

Chandi, a farmer recognised for his contribution to natural farming, received a National Award from a Union Ministry in 2019 for promoting indigenous seeds and agricultural methods without chemical fertilisers. However, he now finds himself facing financial hardship after his missing mobile phone allegedly became the starting point of a series of unauthorised bank transactions. The incident has raised concerns over the vulnerability of digital banking systems and the challenges faced by victims while seeking timely assistance.

According to Chandi, his mobile phone went missing on March 29, following which he immediately filed a written complaint at the local police station. Since his bank accounts were connected to the SIM card linked with the lost phone, he applied for a replacement SIM card. After activating the new SIM, he reportedly received alerts showing that Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 had been withdrawn from one of his accounts through two separate transactions on March 31. He then approached Shantipur Police and the Cyber Crime Department on April 1 after suspecting fraudulent activity.

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The alleged fraud continued the next day, with another Rs 71,000 reportedly transferred from his account in a separate state-owned bank through 12 transactions. The case has raised further questions as Chandi claims that neither of his bank accounts had internet banking facilities activated and he did not own an ATM card. Bank officials have reportedly been unable to explain how such large transactions could have taken place without access to these services.

Following the incident, Chandi submitted complaints to bank managers, nodal officers, cyber crime officials, and the Reserve Bank of India’s main branch. Despite repeated follow-ups and reminder letters, he said no suspects have been identified and the investigation has not produced any outcome. Expressing disappointment over the delay, Chandi questioned the effectiveness of existing cyber security measures and the ability of authorities to protect ordinary citizens from digital fraud.

Having spent decades promoting responsible and sustainable farming, Chandi said he is now facing financial difficulties after losing his savings in the alleged cyber attack. The incident highlights the growing challenges associated with digital fraud, particularly for elderly citizens who may face difficulties navigating complex banking and cyber crime reporting systems. Authorities are yet to provide a final update on the investigation or recovery of the missing funds.

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