A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) has been cheated of Rs 4.7 lakh by a travel agent in Dongri,Azad Maidan police said. The agent also allegedly fled with passports of several members of his family. A K A Khan,who retired as ACP Special Branch-I two years ago,approached Al-Muqaddas Tours & Travels in February to book a Haj tour for his 13-member family. Police said Khan allegedly paid Rs 4.7 lakh in three installments to Rehan Faqi Abdul Rashid Hajate in February. He also gave Hajate 13 passports to book tickets. Hajate,however,allegedly fled with the money and passports. Khan told police he went to Hajates office in February,but found it closed. Hajates cell phone was also switched off,police said. Khan said he went to the office repeatedly over the next few months but was unable to locate Hajate. He finally registered a complaint at Azad Maidan police station Sunday. Hajate has been booked under section 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Khan said Hajate may have similarly duped hundreds of others. He has duped 240 people and is absconding with crores of rupees, he said. Police said they were investigating Khans claims although no other complainants have come forward. We went to Hajates travel agency and his home in Dongri but could not find him. Hajates cell phone is also switched off. So far only Khan has complained to us. We cannot say whether Hajate has cheated others unless more complainants come forward, said Deepak Dhole,senior inspector,Azad Maidan police station. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
