The chit fund meltdown in the state claimed another life on Thursday when owner of a rural Ponzi scheme company committed suicide in Hooghly district on Thursday taking death toll to 14. AMCO firm managing director Asim Bera was found lying unconscious on the side of his garage on Thursday morning. The 56-year-old reportedly consumed poison early on Thursday and was declared dead at hospital, sources said.
According to the locals, Mr Bera was facing threats from depositors in Bankura and Purulia districts where his firm was active. This was the second chit fund related death in the districts of Hooghly.
In a separate incident, depositors thrashed Uttam Ruidas, the owner of another chit fund company Satya Seva and handed him over to the police. The incident took place in Durgapur where the depositors had earlier filed an FIR against Ruidas on April 16 for not returning their investment despite crossing maturity date. It was reported that Ruidas was absconding since then and had taken shelter in a relative’s house.
However, seizing Thursday’s opportunity, depositors got hold of him and beat him up before handing him to the police.