05 June,2025 07:45 PM IST | Navi Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Police have registered a case against a couple for allegedly cheating a 48-year-old businessman of Rs 21 lakh. Representational Pic/File
Police have registered a case against a couple for allegedly cheating a 48-year-old businessman of Rs 21 lakh by promising him a petrol pump dealership in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township, an official said on Thursday.
The businessman, based in Kalyan in Thane district, runs an LPG distribution agency in Uttar Pradesh, reported PTI.
The couple, residing in Wagle Estate, Thane city, approached him between June 2019 and November 2021 with an offer of a petrol pump dealership in Navi Mumbai and demanded Rs 50 lakh for it, the official from Kolsewadi police station said.
The businessman told the duo that he could not arrange the full amount, after which they asked him to pay Rs 20 lakh initially and the rest after allotment.
He then paid Rs 21.02 lakh to the accused, the police said.
"Despite several follow-ups and repeated assurances, the dealership was never allotted. When the victim confronted the accused, they failed to provide any satisfactory response and turned evasive," the official stated.
Based on the businessman's complaint, the police registered an FIR against the couple on June 1 under legal provisions for cheating and other charges, he said.
Meanwhile, the Thane police have apprehended an additional individual in connection with a Ponzi scheme, in which over 100 individuals are believed to have been defrauded of Rs 91 crore, a senior official said on Thursday.
A total of three individuals have been taken into custody by the police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) concerning the fraudulent activities, according to a statement by Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) Parag Manere, reported PTI.
Additionally, the police have issued lookout notices for four other suspects and are making efforts to locate all individuals involved in the scheme, he added.
The scheme, allegedly initiated by a company claiming to develop applications for Google, attracted investors between 2020 and 2024 with misleading promises of significant returns generated from advertisements, according to police reports.
"Under the scheme, 124 investors have been cheated to the tune of Rs 91.63 crore. The count is still on," the official stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
