Once celebrated in North Texas for their Bollywood-style performances and social charm, a Plano couple is now at the center of a sweeping fraud investigation involving fake real estate deals, forged documents, and misused pandemic funds.
Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita were local fixtures in the Indian-American cultural scene, known for hosting parties and performing on stage.
But according to an investigation led by CBS News, behind the glamour was a financial scheme that may have defrauded more than 100 people, with confirmed losses already exceeding $4 million.
“They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople,” Terry Parvaga, an alleged victim, told CBS. “But they will take every single penny you have.”
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The couple was arrested in June on charges of first-degree felony theft, after an inquiry that took nearly two years and spanned multiple jurisdictions.
Victims say they were shown contracts, invoices, and email exchanges—allegedly linked to remodeling projects backed by the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA)—to assure them their investments were legitimate. But when Brennan contacted the DHA, it confirmed no such contracts existed.
The arrest affidavit, reviewed by CBS, states that “all of the paperwork, receipt and email correspondence were forged.” Brennan described the scale of the forgeries as extensive.
“All fake,” he told CBS. “The level of counterfeit documents… it had to be a full-time job for him to do that.”
In Brennan’s 23 years of experience investigating white-collar crime, he called Sammy Mukherjee “probably the most prolific fraudster I’ve seen,” noting the scheme had “tentacles going in all different directions.”
The case was later handed over to the FBI, where forensic accountants verified 20 confirmed victims, with over 100 more potentially affected.
In a meeting with investigators at a Plano fast food restaurant, Mukherjee denied knowing several employee names listed in the loan application. The affidavit says those individuals were fictional, created solely to secure federal money.
The scheme also allegedly involved funds collected through scams targeting senior citizens. CBS reports that investigators traced bank deposits to individuals who were misled by threatening emails into believing they owed money to law enforcement. They were told to pay to avoid arrest.
When questioned about those funds, Mukherjee claimed the money had come from a now-deceased business partner and was meant for a hotel project. Investigators were not convinced.
The event featured a Bollywood celebrity as guest of honour and was attended by the mayor of Plano. CBS confirmed the nonprofit was registered to the couple’s home—the same location where they were arrested weeks later.
The two were each released on a $500,000 bond, but shortly after, Sammy Mukherjee was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is currently being held at a detention center near Fort Worth. CBS reports that the couple had come to the U.S. from India seeking asylum. Their current immigration status is unclear.
The affidavit also references documents submitted by victims indicating that Mukherjee may have outstanding fraud warrants in Mumbai.
The outlook is grim. Investigators told CBS that the Mukherjees filed for bankruptcy last year, and there is growing concern that assets may have been moved into cryptocurrency or overseas accounts.
“I think it’s gone,” Brennan said in the interview. “I think they’ve spent it on cars, their house, and in just living expenses.”
As the criminal case moves forward, dozens of victims are still waiting—not just for justice, but for answers about whether their savings can ever be recovered.
Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita were local fixtures in the Indian-American cultural scene, known for hosting parties and performing on stage.
But according to an investigation led by CBS News, behind the glamour was a financial scheme that may have defrauded more than 100 people, with confirmed losses already exceeding $4 million.
“They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople,” Terry Parvaga, an alleged victim, told CBS. “But they will take every single penny you have.”
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
The couple was arrested in June on charges of first-degree felony theft, after an inquiry that took nearly two years and spanned multiple jurisdictions.
How the alleged scheme took off
The investigation gained momentum in 2023, when Detective Brian Brennan of the Euless Police Department took on a case brought by a couple who claimed to have lost $325,000 in what they thought was a real estate investment. According to CBS, Brennan soon discovered the complaints weren’t isolated.Victims say they were shown contracts, invoices, and email exchanges—allegedly linked to remodeling projects backed by the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA)—to assure them their investments were legitimate. But when Brennan contacted the DHA, it confirmed no such contracts existed.
The arrest affidavit, reviewed by CBS, states that “all of the paperwork, receipt and email correspondence were forged.” Brennan described the scale of the forgeries as extensive.
“All fake,” he told CBS. “The level of counterfeit documents… it had to be a full-time job for him to do that.”
In Brennan’s 23 years of experience investigating white-collar crime, he called Sammy Mukherjee “probably the most prolific fraudster I’ve seen,” noting the scheme had “tentacles going in all different directions.”
The case was later handed over to the FBI, where forensic accountants verified 20 confirmed victims, with over 100 more potentially affected.
Fake firms, pandemic loans, and elderly victims
The affidavit also alleges that the couple fabricated a company and falsified payroll details to secure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds intended for pandemic-hit businesses.In a meeting with investigators at a Plano fast food restaurant, Mukherjee denied knowing several employee names listed in the loan application. The affidavit says those individuals were fictional, created solely to secure federal money.
The scheme also allegedly involved funds collected through scams targeting senior citizens. CBS reports that investigators traced bank deposits to individuals who were misled by threatening emails into believing they owed money to law enforcement. They were told to pay to avoid arrest.
When questioned about those funds, Mukherjee claimed the money had come from a now-deceased business partner and was meant for a hotel project. Investigators were not convinced.
Public appearances, arrest, and what comes next
Even as the investigation continued, the Mukherjees remained active in social circles. In May 2024, they headlined a high-profile charity event hosted by the Indian Traditions & Cultural Society of North America.The event featured a Bollywood celebrity as guest of honour and was attended by the mayor of Plano. CBS confirmed the nonprofit was registered to the couple’s home—the same location where they were arrested weeks later.
The two were each released on a $500,000 bond, but shortly after, Sammy Mukherjee was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is currently being held at a detention center near Fort Worth. CBS reports that the couple had come to the U.S. from India seeking asylum. Their current immigration status is unclear.
The affidavit also references documents submitted by victims indicating that Mukherjee may have outstanding fraud warrants in Mumbai.
The outlook is grim. Investigators told CBS that the Mukherjees filed for bankruptcy last year, and there is growing concern that assets may have been moved into cryptocurrency or overseas accounts.
“I think it’s gone,” Brennan said in the interview. “I think they’ve spent it on cars, their house, and in just living expenses.”
As the criminal case moves forward, dozens of victims are still waiting—not just for justice, but for answers about whether their savings can ever be recovered.
