A 42-year-old businessman from Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, has allegedly been defrauded of Rs 2 crore by an individual posing as a government official, as per reports from Thane. The victim, a resident of Nerul in Navi Mumbai, faced business setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting him to seek financial assistance.
In January 2021, the victim came into contact with the accused, a resident of Parel in Mumbai, who falsely claimed to hold a high-ranking position within the central government’s health ministry. The imposter assured the victim of securing a loan, boasting connections with the CEO of a bank. He proposed using the victim’s property as collateral for the loan.
However, as the victim didn’t possess any property for mortgaging, the accused introduced another individual allegedly seeking a loan, suggesting that this person could mortgage their property instead. The victim, enticed by the offer, handed over Rs 2 crore, sourced from a Telangana contractor for the Pune Metro project, to the imposter.
When the victim requested to meet the other party seeking the loan and the bank official, the imposter avoided meeting and subsequently disappeared. Following the victim’s complaint, the Nerul police station registered a case against the imposter under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and forgery. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
