Mumbai: Tardeo Police nabs fraudster for duping retired BMC employee

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The Tardeo Police in Mumbai have nabbed a suspect for allegedly duping a retired Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employee by enticing him with the promise of purchasing a house for Rs 32.5 lakh, the police said on Saturday.

According to the police, the complainant, Kanji Parmar had sought to buy a house, during which he came across the suspect, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rafiq Shaikh (40), also known as Ajju. Parmar expressed his intention to buy a house to Ajju, who then informed him about extensive redevelopment activities taking place in Tulsiwadi, Tardeo. The suspect had informed the complainant that reconstruction work had commenced on a piece of land, and a resident from the same area was looking to sell his house.

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The police said, Ajju claimed that the house belonging to a person named Mohammad Atiq Shaikh had previously been demolished due to redevelopment, and Shaikh was currently residing in a transit camp. Ajju asserted that Shaikh intended to sell his house, presenting Parmar with all the relevant documents for verification. When Parmar expressed his desire to meet Shaikh, the rightful owner of the property, Ajju explained that Shaikh, being unwell, did not entertain visitors and had delegated the authority to sell the house to Ajju.

Placing trust in Ajju, Parmar issued a total of Rs 28 lakh in cheque form and Rs 4.5 lakh in cash from October 2018 to March 2023. Despite Ajju assuring Parmar possession of the house by July 2023, he failed to deliver. Whenever Parmar inquired about the property, Ajju evaded the questions. Suspicious of Ajju's behavior, Parmar visited Shaikh's house, only to discover a woman who identified herself as Shaikh's daughter. She revealed that her father had acquired the house from Ajju in 2013 and had since passed away, an official said.

Realising the fraud committed against him, Parmar reported the incident to the Tardeo Police. Following an investigation, the police arrested Abdul Aziz Shaikh alias Ajju, the police said.

"Ajju was presented in court, where he was remanded to police custody until January 15," an official said.