Haryana man posing as doctor arrested for cheating Mumbai-based medical distributor

The accused had previously worked as a medical representative

The Sion police have arrested a man from Rohtak, Haryana, for allegedly impersonating a doctor and cheating a Mumbai-based medical distributor of medicines worth over Rs 6.3 lakh.

The accused, identified as Mukesh Taleja, had previously worked as a medical representative and is suspected to have defrauded multiple distributors using a similar modus operandi.

According to the police, between April 30 and May 2, Taleja contacted the complainant claiming to be Dr. Dipanshu Verma from V.N. Desai Hospital in Santacruz. Posing as a doctor in urgent need of supplies, he gained the complainant's trust and procured medicines worth Rs 5.66 lakh. He later issued a cheque that bounced and failed to make any payment.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act for impersonation, cheating and others.

During the investigation, officials discovered that Taleja had used mobile SIM cards and bank accounts registered in the names of others. He had travelled from Rohtak to Mumbai, stayed for a couple of days to carry out the fraud, and returned to Haryana.

Based on technical analysis, police traced him to Kamothe in Navi Mumbai. The police squad was deployed, and Taleja and his accomplice - whose role was to be the middlemen - were taken into custody.

Further inquiries revealed that Taleja sourced contact details of medical distributors through online platforms and would call them pretending to be a doctor to place high-value orders. He would then issue fake cheques to avoid payment.

The police seized five mobile phones, blank cheques from thirteen banks, one debit card, and medicines worth Rs 6.31 lakh, suspected to have been acquired through similar scams.

Officials said Taleja is believed to have duped several distributors across regions, and efforts are underway to trace additional victims and accomplices.

The investigation was led by DCP (Zone 4) Ragasudha R. and ACP (Sion Division) Shailendra Dhiwar, along with Senior Inspector Manisha Shirke, PI Avinash Jagtap, cyber officer Dattatray Khade, and others.