Doctors duped of Rs 76 lakh, 5 held

Surprisingly, the builder made out a cheque for Rs 45 lakh to Dr Rao about two weeks after the meeting, says Liyaqat Ali Sayyed, assistant police inspector, Tardeo police station. As agreed, the doctor turned over the money to the trio, who promised to pay her interest on the amount. A few weeks later, the builder once again contacted Dr Rao, saying he was constructing a building at Worli and suggested that she book space in it for an office and a dispensary. The gullible doctor agreed and made a cash payment of Rs 30 lakh. After turning the deal over in her mind for a few weeks, Dr Rao demanded that he repay the money.

Dr Rao thus turned to Patel and his two associates once more and they agreed on the same terms as before. With Rs 76 lakh in their kitty, the trio failed to return a single paise to the doctor. Dr Rao then approached the Crime Branch, which got them to issue the doctor post-dated chequesequal to the amount agreed upon. The cheques bounced, and Dr Rao then approached DCP (Zone II), K Venkatesham, who directed her to the Tardeo police. Patel, Rana and Cooper were arrested on November 10 and charged with cheating, said Sub-Inspector, Vijay Shinde. During interrogation they confessed to giving most of the booty to Ashok Chotelal Gupta, an estate agent at Tardeo. Gupta was also arrested in the case. The trail also led to Patel’s wife, Siraj, and his mother-in-law Maneck Eddie Postwala, who had collected about Rs 3 crore from various investors in a separate case. The women had promised to double the amount within four months but went back on their word. Several investors also complained to the police.

Siraj and Postwala were arrested on November 12 and are in custody. Police have requested the remaining investors who had entrusted their savings to the women, to come forward and lodge complaints so that the extent of the fraud can be ascertained. Investigations are being conducted underInspectors T R Chavan and Rajendra Thakur of the Tardeo police station.