PUNE: An incident has been reported wherein a city-based businessman was cheated of ₹66.33 crore under the guise of offering goods seized by the customs at a cheap price. An FIR has been registered against four persons based in Navi Mumbai. It is being suspected that the accused have cheated many businessmen of crores of rupees.
An FIR has been registered against Soham Impex Pvt Ltd’s Dashrath Machindra Kokre, Varsha Dashrath Kokre, Mahesh Rambhau Bandgar, Sagar Rambhau Bandghar, all residents of Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. A businessman based in Market Yard has lodged a complaint. He has a business in the wholesale market at the Market Yard and is involved in export of betelnut and black pepper. A person had introduced him to the accused Kokre. The businessman was told that Kokre procures goods which have been seized by the customs for a lower price and he would benefit if he invests money in the business.
The accused Kokre met the businessman and showed him a fake email sent by the Health Department of the Centre. The businessman invested ₹66.33 crore in the accused’s business. After investment, he did not get any return. After he realised that he had been cheated, he lodged a complaint with the police. API Ruikar of EOW is carrying out a probe.
