Canny canine dealer dupes vet

Victim cheated of Rs 6 lakh by Australia-based businessman and associates

If his story is to be believed, south Delhi-based veterinarian IS Kothari got a really raw deal. Kothari was allegedly duped of Rs 6 lakh by an Australian businessman and his aides on the pretext of selling him some pedigreed dogs.


slip of the tongue: Dr I S Kothari owner of South Delhi Pet Clinic at Saket
on Sunday. PIC/Subhash Barolia

Speaking with this reporter, Kothari said that he runs his clinic from Saket area of south Delhi and also sells canines. Recently he was contacted by Assam Police for the delivery of a dozen pedigree pugs. Following this Kothari gave an advertisement on Yahoo's website for purchasing dogs.
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"I received a call from a person called RK Saxena who represented himself as a manager of an Australia-based businessman called Aggarwal. Saxena said that Aggarwal's son is in Delhi and has bought a dozen Australian breed pugs and called me to have a look at the pups. They called me to Dilshad Garden Metro Station from where one of their associates took me to Radhey Shyam Park in Sahibabad. I waited for Aggarwal but he did not come and his manager RK Saxena and another person asked me to come tomorrow. Next day they took me to a farmhouse and showed me the pugs. The amount was negotiated and finally they were agreed to sell me pugs for Rs 6 lakh," said Kothari.

He added that the following day he paid a visit to their address carrying Rs 6 lakh in a bag. Kothari was offered a tea laced with sedatives. After having few sips he became unconscious while RK Saxena and others allegedly took his bag containing money. After a few minutes they asked Kothari to go back to his home.

"I could not understand what had happened to me after having the tea. They were telling me that Aggarwal's son had met with a serious accident and so they had to leave for Jaipur immediately. They asked me to come back the next day but had already taken the money from me. I was perturbed as no one will believe this story," he said.
Next day Kothari contacted an IPS friend whose dog he had been treating for a long time. The IPS was a friend of Ghaziabad SSP, Raghubir Lal and asked the latter to help the victim. Meanwhile, an investigation official involved in the investigation told this reporter that they have received a complaint in this regard and the matter is being probed.

"The culprit had been living in a rented accommodation. They hired the place through a property dealer one and a half months ago. Their cell phones are switched off," said the officer.