Maharashtra: Four booked for duping Thane farmer of Rs 5.25 lakh promising jobs to his sons

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Four persons were booked for duping Thane farmer of Rs 5.25 lakh on pretext of getting his two sons in the forest department, an official said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

The police have registered a case against four persons for cheating the Thane farmer, reported PTI.

The 54-year-old complainant from Manivali near Kalyan told the police that the accused first got in touch with him in January 2022.

The farmer said the accused took Rs 5.25 lakh from him promising jobs for his sons. They even issued fake joining letters claiming that it was from the forest department, reported PTI.

When the farmer raised queries, the accused, identified as Krishna Shinde, Pravin Ananta Pawar, Rutuja Chowdhari, and Hiraman, alias Bala Bhavar, first gave evasive answers and then became unreachable, the official said citing the complaint, reported PTI.

After the Thane farmer approached the Kalyan police on Monday, a case was registered against the four for cheating, the official added, reported PTI.

In another case, police have arrested a carpenter, who is also an office-bearer of a labour union, for allegedly extorting Rs 50,000 from a builder in Thane city of Maharashtra, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The accused, Shantaram Shelke, 48, was arrested on Tuesday in an operation carried out by the Anti-Extortion Cell of the city police's crime branch, reported PTI.

In his complaint, victim Sandeep Gaikwad, a prominent builder from Kalyan, said Shelke threatened him and demanded money, reported PTI.

"The accused had complained to the city civic body, alleging that one of the constructions made by Gaikwad was illegal and it should be razed. He then approached the builder and told him that if he wants the complaint to be withdrawn, he should pay Rs 50,000," the official said, reported PTI.

The victim lodged the complaint on January 15, based on which the police laid a trap the next day and caught the accused taking Rs 50,000 from the builder in Ulhasnagar, he said, reported PTI.

A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 384 (extortion), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) at the Ulhasnagar police station.

Following his arrest, the accused was remanded in police custody.

(With inputs from PTI)