Known for their flashy lifestyle and Bollywood-style events, Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita are now at the center of a massive fraud investigation in North Texas.

The Indian-origin couple, once popular figures in the Indian-American community in Plano, Texas, have been arrested for allegedly running a fake real estate scheme that scammed over 100 people out of at least $4 million (around ₹33 crore).

They are currently being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center and are facing first-degree felony theft charges, according to Daily Mail.

How they allegedly tricked people

Police say the couple promised big returns to investors through fake real estate projects. Victims were shown documents that looked real, such as fake remodeling contracts and fake invoices, some of which were claimed to be from the Dallas Housing Authority.

According to CBS News, “The investors didn’t realize the fraud until the dividend cheques started to bounce.”

In 2024, one couple said they had lost $325,000 and reported it to the police. That’s when Detective Brian Brennan from Euless Police started the investigation, which later involved the FBI.

Detective Brennan told CBS News that in his 23-year career, he had never seen a “fraudster” as “prolific” as Sammy Mukherjee. He added that checks with the Dallas Housing Authority confirmed that the projects were completely fake.

So far, 20 victims have officially come forward, but authorities believe the actual number may be much higher, possibly over 100.

“They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople. But they will take every single penny you have,” said one of the victims, Terry Parvaga, while speaking to CBS News.

Many victims said the couple used their charm, social status, and stylish appearances to win people’s trust before taking their money.

The accusations don’t end with real estate fraud. The couple is also said to have threatened elderly people with fake emails, warning them of arrest unless they made quick payments.

Authorities also allege that the Mukherjees submitted false information to get money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was meant to help businesses during the pandemic. They reportedly made up employee names and fake payroll data to get federal aid, Daily Mail reported.

In an FBI interview held at a McDonald’s in Plano, Sammy Mukherjee reportedly denied knowing the names tied to the PPP loans.

Even with growing complaints, the couple continued their public appearances until they filed for bankruptcy in 2024. Investigators are now checking if the stolen money was moved overseas or converted into cryptocurrency.

Federal records reviewed by Daily Mail say the couple had come to the U.S. from India seeking asylum, though their current immigration status is unclear. There is also an outstanding fraud warrant for Sidhartha Mukherjee in Mumbai, according to the arrest affidavit.

If found guilty, Sidhartha and Sunita Mukherjee could face anywhere between 5 to 99 years in prison under Texas law. Investigations are still ongoing as more victims continue to step forward.

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