One booked after NGO for acid attack survivors duped of Rs 18 lakh

Pothraj first showed Khan a 500-square-foot plot near Venila Talao for Rs 25 lakh. But Khan cancelled the deal owing to an ongoing legal dispute over the plot’s ownership. Pothraj then showed a 1,003-square-foot open plot worth Rs 40 lakh for the NGO on Marve Road to Khan. Khan decided to finalise the deal.

Through check payments and online transfers, the NGO paid Rs 20.17 lakh to Pothraj for the plot in multiple installments, the complainant said. However, Pothraj failed to give documents pertaining to the purchase of the plot, prompting Khan to suspect foul play. He then demanded that her NGOs money be returned. Pothraj returned Rs 2 lakh to the NGO and told Khan that he would give her two rooms, states the FIR.

Pothraj later gave one 500-square-foot room to the NGO in Madh village, Malad (West). Howver, when Pothraj did not register the room in the NGO’s name, Khan filed a police complaint against him.

Last month, when Khan and three acid attack survivors visited the said room in Madh village, two bouncers present there didn’t allow them to enter the property.

Khan then approached the Malwani police, seeking action against him. After over two month-long inquiry, Malwani police Friday registered an FIR against Potheraj on the directive of the zonal DCP. “The police took it so long to register our matter. We hope senior police officers will help us get justice,” Khan said.

“”We have registered the case under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC and looking for the accused who is on the run,” said Shekhar Bhalerao, senior inspector of Malwani police station.