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The Dindoshi police have booked a man, who is into interior decoration business, for allegedly duping seven people to the tune of Rs 1.02 crore. The accused person allegedly accepted money in advance from the complainant and six other victims under the pretext of getting their interior decoration and other house-related utility works done. However, the accused neither did their work, nor returned them their money, thus defrauding them. No arrest has been made yet. The accused is suspected to have duped more people.
The accused has been identified as Samar Shah, alias Irfan Mehmood. The accused had allegedly operated from an office in the Express Zone on Western Express Highway, Malad (East). Police have booked Mehmood on the complaint of Nilesh Mahamunkar, (43), a resident of Goregaon (East).
According to police, Mehmood built a good rapport in the Dindoshi area by bragging about his good work history in the interior designing and other utility work. He gained popularity after doing good work in Maitri Park project in Santosh Nagar area.
Generally, his clients would give feedback that he is capable of doing good interior work at affordable rates using his good network of vendors, a police source said. Between January and June this year, Mehmood accepted advance money from seven people, including Mahamunkar, for interior decoration and other works. However, he failed to deliver service and went incognito. When his clients contacted him, Mehmood claimed his mother was hospitalised, hence he could not deliver on his promises.
Mehmood accepted advance from his clients in his bank accounts and suspected to have misused their funds, another police source said. He is also accused of borrowing money from people for his ailing mother’s treatment. When the victims demanded their money be refunded, he bought time by giving some or other excuse. After following up with him for weeks, the victims finally approached the police and filed complaint.
Dindoshi police carried out a preliminary probe and put up a report before the zonal DCP. On the DCP’s instructions on Sunday, an FIR was filed against Mehmood and his associates.Police have booked him under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
Police suspect that there are more victims from the Goregaon West area, and they may come forward in the coming days. Mahamunkar, was not available for comment.
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