Accused absconding for last 20 days, police yet to file FIR

Pointing towards a fraud tours and travel racket, around ten cases involving the same travel agent have come to light in different police stations across the city. Tempted by the lucrative prices offered by an agent named Sandeep Lochabh, 10 Delhi-based businessmen lost lakhs of rupees and have now approached the police for help.


Big loot: Noida-based Sandeep Lochabh duped about Rs
30 lakh from Delhi-based traders.

Modus operandi
In one such instance, Lochabh, reportedly operating from Sector-7 in Rohini, offered Rajouri Garden-based diamond merchant Jatin Khurana, a five nights and six days package to Singapore for Rs 50,000 per person. "I was planning to go to Singapore with my parents. I was introduced to this agent by a common friend. He asked for the passports and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash," rued Khurana.

He gave the money on June 21 and the tickets were booked online on June 22. "We gave the entire amount at an office in Rohini. When we checked the tickets' status online on June 23, they stood cancelled. We were shocked and immediately contacted Lochabh on phone. But he was unavailable. Later, we visited his office and met a person named Sudheer Sapra, who was earlier introduced to us by Lochabh as his business partner," said Khurana.

Sapra, however, denied having anything to do with the travel agent. He claimed he used the office space occasionally but was not aware of Lochabh's business dealings. "Is it possible that Lochabh allowed a person to sit in his premises without knowing him?" questioned Khurana.

Nearly 20 days have passed since Khurana approached the police in this regard, but they are yet to file an FIR. Interestingly, he was not the only complainant. He came in touch with other victims outside Lochabh's office and the police station. Four other complaints were lodged in the same police station, wherein the accused duped the complainants of Rs 1-4 lakh the same day.

While Lochabh is still absconding, more such cases registered at Rani Bagh and Model Town police stations have come to light. Ajay Agrawal, another businessman, was duped of Rs 3 lakh. He said, "I filed a complaint at Rani Bagh police station. The investigation is still on. I think the police should pull up their socks. Over 10 complaints have been registered against the same person but the police are still reluctant to pursue the case."

Police inaction
A K Roy, another victim who had booked two tickets to Boston for his son and his friend, alleged, "The police are working hand-in-gloves with the agent. His family is staying at Sector 11 in Rohini. Once or twice the police went to his house but all in vain. The family members say they are clueless about his location. Obviously they are lying. If the police really wanted to trace him, he would have been found by now." Roy's son was going abroad to pursue higher studies and had paid Rs 37,000 to the agent. This complaint was registered at the Rohini police station the same day.

'Cop out'
When MiD DAY contacted Delhi Police, a senior official denied all allegations and said, "We are investigating the case. We are in regular touch with his family members. Once the investigation is complete, we will file an FIR in the case and take necessary action."