Double-your-money firm run by two brothers shuts, leaving investors in lurch
Double-your-money firm run by two brothers shuts, leaving investors in lurch
Anita Bomani is still to get over the loss of her hard-earned money.
The Andheri-based homemaker and her relatives who together invested Rs 1.75 crore and also coaxed their relatives and friends to invest in the double-your-money scheme floated by a finance firm, Symbiosis Investment Pvt Ltd, have lost all hope of retrieving their money.
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| PERPETRATORS: Mayur and Rahul Patil (left) conned Anita Bomani and her husband (right) and Nizam Khan (in white shirt). A case of cheating has been registered against the accused. PIC/KETAN RANGA |
"The fraudsters gave us good returns initially, and once they earned our confidence, they vamoosed without a trace," said Bomani.
She is just one of several gullible investors who were cheated of a total of Rs 1,000 crore.
The company dealt under different names for investments in gold, property and finance.u00a0 Its managing director, Rahul Patil and his brother Mayur have been on the run since February, claiming they had received threats from the underworld.
The Patil brothers have also dabbled in film production. "We were supposed to get our money back in February, but Rahul claimed he would have to shut the office temporarily as the underworld had been threatening him," said Nizam Khan, a computer engineer who invested Rs 7 lakh in the double-your-money scheme.
Hundreds of investors have been visiting the Dadar and Versova branches of the company but have not had any response.
"We have been complaining to the police since February, but an FIR had been lodged only last month," said an investor who did not wish to be named.
"Only last week did they lodge a complaint against the company's agents who have been roaming around free."
FIRs have been lodged against Patil at Shivaji Park and Versova police stations.
What cops say"We have registered a case of cheating and are on the lookout for the accused," said a sub-inspector from Shivaji Park police station.
| Filmy link |
| The Patil brothers had invested in tinsel town. The company, Symbiosis Movies, produced a Marathi film, Dhool Maati, two Hindi movies, A Major 3 and Salaam 26/11, and an album titled Chal.
The con schemes
Finance: Invest Rs 60,000 and get back Rs 1.20 lakh in a year -- Rs 10,000 a month for 12 months or, invest Rs 3.20 lakh and get Rs 30,000 a month for four years
Property: Invest Rs 1.90 lakh in property in Badlapur. Nine months after investment, get Rs 95,000 every month for six months
Car rental scheme: Invest Rs 1.2 lakh and get Rs 2.40 lakh after 12 months -- Rs 20,000 a month
Deja vu
In the past, investors have been swindled by Om Sai Nath Investment and Limouzine Rental & Car Co which floated similar double-your-money schemes.
Investors were paid a certain amount and also given a car after a specified period. After paying the initial amounts to a few investors, the company shut down, leaving many in the lurch.
While the owner of Om Sai Nath is behind bars, the owner of Limouzine is out on bail. |
