Mumbai Crime: Note scam gang struck again, but failed

The gang lured businessmen with the promise to exchange their old currency notes with new ones. Representational pic

The new note scam group, which was booked on October 14 for duping a Vapi-based road constructor of Rs 3.5 crore, had tried to cheat another businessman of Rs 4.5 crore on October 15. The businessman, however, suspected something amiss and pulled out of the deal before handing over the money, as per interrogation of the arrested accused. Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai police have named Sunil Marathe, a constable rank police personnel, as a suspect in the case.

The scam first came to the fore after a Vapi-based businessman approached CBD Belapur police, complaining that he was duped of Rs 3.5 crore by a gang under the pretext of changing old currency notes for new ones. One of the accused had posed as an RBI treasurer. However, after taking the money from the victim, the accused staged a raid by an alleged RBI vigilance team and claimed that they seized the cash.

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While the victim had approached the police early in October, an FIR was filed on October 14. The complainant had also claimed that a few cops were involved with the gang and said that they tried to persuade him to settle the matter.

The cops, meanwhile, arrested one of the accused, Vishal Viroja. During interrogation, the cops learnt that the same group was attempting to con another business from Surat, Gujarat. The deal was supposed to take place in Vashi on October 15, but the accused did not succeed.

"The accused had managed to get a businessman from Surat in their net. He wanted to exchange currency worth Rs 4.5 crore. On October 15, the businessman had come to a mall [in Vashi] and met the person who introduced himself as an RBI treasurer, but the businessman felt something fishy and pulled out of the deal," said a cop privy to the investigation.

The interrogation also revealed that Moin Qadri, another accused who is absconding, is the kingpin of the racket. Qadri was earlier booked by the Ratnagiri police for alleged murder and kidnapping in 2013 and 2007, respectively.

Meanwhile, Viroja was produced before the court on October 28 and has been remanded in judicial custody. The investigating officer, while seeking his remand, told the court that they are investigating the possible involvement of a constable-rank cop named Sunil Marathe in the crime. They also named Sandeep Vaidya, a journalist, as a suspect.