‘Baby Patankar’ missing after Mumbai court rejects her bail plea in cheating case

She was booked for allegedly cheating a South Mumbai-based customs clearing agent of Rs 1.98 crore on the promise of selling five kilogram gold at cheaper rates in October 2021.

Patankar had applied for interim bail and was granted protection from arrest till September 30. However, on September 30, her interim bail plea was rejected by the court. A senior officer said, “The day when her bail plea was rejected by the court, we couldn’t arrest her and she did not come to the court.”

When asked if the police should have kept an eye on her considering she could flee, an officer said, “Due to Ganesh Chaturthi and Eid-e-Milad festivals, there was a huge deployment of officers. However, we are looking for her and will nab her soon.”

A Cuffe Parade resident had submitted a written application a few months ago to the Mumbai crime branch and the case was registered at the Worli police station last month. In the FIR, the complainant, a customs clearing agency, said that he had planned to get into gold trading and had spread the word among his friends.

A person introduced him to Patankar in October last year claiming she had five kilograms of raw gold and that it was available for sale. He alleged that she took over Rs 1.98 crore from him but did not give the gold making various excuses. Later when she stopped responding to him, the complaint said.