Agent of ponzi scheme operator kills self

Canning: Unable to bear the pressure of investors to return their money, a woman agent of a ponzi scheme operating company allegedly committed suicide today in South 24 Parganas district, the police said. Manorama Haldar (32), who herself deposited Rs 8 lakh and raised Rs 32 lakh from people for Basil International Limited, was found hanging in her house at Basuldanga. The Kolkata based Basil International closed its Diamond Harbour office in the district following the Saradha chitfund scam that unfolded in April. Cracking down on fraudulent investment schemes, SEBI on May 16 had barred Basil International as well as its promoters and directors from raising money from the public. Those who deposited money via Manorama had been pressurising her to return the money, the police said adding she killed herself as it had become unbearable for her. Basil had allegedly taken deposits from the public under the garb of redeemable preference shares from rural people after promising high returns in the range of 11-14 percent. The company raised about Rs 92 crore through issue of redeemable cumulative preference shares till March 31, 2012. PTI