As many as 250 have been duped of nearly Rs 35 crore by a scamster and his associates in Mumbai. There are doctors and businessmen as well among the victims
As many as 250 have been duped of nearly Rs 35 crore by a scamster and his associates in Mumbai. There are doctors and businessmen as well among the victims.
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Free Press Journal reported that the Vanrai police station has registered an FIR against Mohan Prasad Srivastava and his associates under Section 406, Section 409, Section 420, Section 34 and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
One of the doctors, a gynecologist practicing at Mahim, who fell prey to Srivastava revealed to FPJ, “I have invested funds in the said scam since I am always on the lookout for safe and profitable investment options. In April 2013, two of my acquaintances Bhimrao Wanmane and Arjun Rajane, both inspectors introduced me to Mohan Prasad Srivastav and his wife Vibha at their lavish duplex residence. During discussion, they represented that they operate various financial schemes having short and long-term maturities with high-assured returns. Further, they again invited me for detailed presentation.”
In his statement given to the Economic Offences Wing, the doctor revealed, “In order to arouse our interest in their schemes, they invited us for further meetings at Hub Mall, Western Express Highway, Goregaon, where I handed over the initial amount of Rs.5 lakhs in cash. My friends and I had attended 5 to 6 such meetings. All such meetings were arranged at reputed five star hotels. All family members used to come in chaueffer driven expensive cars and accompanied by a fleet of armed security guards. During these meetings they showed us their photographs holding hands with many politicians, senior bureaucrats including top police officials and cine stars and also showed photocopies of documents showing investments made by them in their schemes.”
“The glamorous lifestyle of Srivastava family made us believe their representations and we trusted them completely so much that during the period from October 27th, 2013 to October 30th, 2014, I invested Rs.9.654 crore through cheque and cash. The general terms of the scheme were that the principal amount invested by me along with a minimum assured profit of 180% was payable to me after completion of 12 months from the date of investment,” the statement further said.
FPJ further reported that the doctor had asked the Srivastava family to sign agreements for investment purposes, but they did not do so. While initially, he received over Rs 93 lakh in his back account, Srivastava soon started defaulting on further repaying repayment.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, S Jaykumar, EOW told the paper, “I will have to check and verify the information regarding the total number of investors duped and the total amount of the scam.”
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