Thane: Four booked for cheating Bhiwandi businessman of Rs 22.4 lakh

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The police on Sunday said that a case has been registered against four persons for allegedly cheating a Bhiwandi businessman of Rs 22.4 lakh in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI.

Based on a complaint, the Bhiwandi police on May 7 registered a case against one Manzoor alias Raja Khan, Abul Kalam, Yaar Mohammad, and Hidan Mohammad under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for the fraud that took place in 2020, an official said, reported PTI.

The official said the Bhiwandi businessman, Awaral Mohammad Rafiq Mohammed, had entered into a partnership with Khan in 2020 to deal in used vehicles, and later Kalam joined the venture.

Between June 2022 and February 2023, they purchased damaged vehicles worth more than Rs 47 lakh from Gujarat for resale and repair, and the complainant invested Rs 22.44 lakh in the business, he said, reported PTI.

According to the FIR, the accused allegedly sold the stock to third parties without informing the complainant and siphoned off the proceeds.

The complainant has claimed that he was assaulted and threatened, and the accused also took away his motorcycle, the official said, adding that the matter is under investigation.

Travel agent duped of Rs 12 lakh

In another case, a travel company owner from Palghar district was allegedly duped of Rs 12 lakh by a Delhi-based travel agent, police said on Saturday and launched an investigation after registering an FIR, reported PTI.

The complainant, who operates a travel company in Vasai, alleged that she was cheated under the guise of a business offer by Praful Gour during September 2024 to April 2025, reported PTI.

"Gour proposed to handle domestic and international tour bookings on behalf of the victim's company. To facilitate this arrangement, the victim claims she transferred an advance sum. The total amount involved in this alleged crime is Rs 12,34,824," police said, reported PTI.

The accused also accepted bookings from various tourists, a majority of whom were apparently booking trips to Dubai. However, the complainant never received any money for these bookings.

An FIR was registered under sections 316 (5) for criminal breach of trust and 318(4) for cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a Manickpur police station official said, adding that the investigation is underway.

(With inputs from PTI)