Kolkata, 1 December (H.S.) : Shocking details have emerged in the investigation into the assault of a young woman inside a moving car in Kolkata. Police have found that the prime accused, Altaf, is allegedly part of a large financial fraud network and had extorted money from the woman before threatening her against approaching the police.

The incident took place last Friday night near the EM Bypass. According to the complaint, Altaf and two accomplices forced the woman into a car, spiked her drink with an intoxicant, and allegedly assaulted and beat her inside the vehicle. The trio later abandoned her in the Maidan area and fled. Police rescued the woman and admitted her to SSKM Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.

Altaf was arrested on Sunday from his residence in Garden Reach. Police are searching for his two associates, whose roles are currently under investigation.

A senior police officer revealed that the woman had met Altaf around three months ago through a mutual acquaintance. At the time, she urgently needed several lakh rupees, and Altaf introduced himself as a loan agent for a reputed company. He allegedly collected ₹1 lakh from her in instalments as processing fees for a low-interest loan. Neither was the loan sanctioned nor was the money returned. When she threatened to file a complaint, he started intimidating her.

According to police, Altaf called the woman on Friday claiming that he wished to return some of the money and requested a meeting. When she reached EM Bypass, he arrived in a car and took her inside. He first threatened her, then allegedly forced her to consume drug-laced liquor before assaulting her. She was later dumped near Maidan.

Altaf was produced before the Alipore court on Sunday and has been remanded to police custody till December 08. Investigators are now questioning him to uncover the full extent of the fraud network and criminal activities linked to the case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh