Mumbai crime: Car dealer held for duping Bollywood actor Tiku Talsania

A self-described car dealer who conned Bollywood actor Tiku Talsania of Rs 6 lakh and his sports bike has landed in the police net. Employing the modus operandi he used on Talsania, the accused also swindled a south Mumbai resident of Rs 13 lakh.

Bollywood actor Tiku Talsania was conned of Rs 6 lakh and his sports bike worth Rs 3 lakh, in return for a brand new car. File Pic

He had promised both the victims a brand new car at a discounted rate, but went into hiding after taking their money. Police said the conman, identified as Kandivli resident Parag Pravinchand Shah (39), was first apprehended by the Dindoshi police in the Talsania case on Wednesday, but was taken into custody by the Gamdevi police yesterday, after they learnt of his arrest.

SoBo man cheated
According to Gamdevi police, Shreyas Krishnakant Vyas (33), a resident of Prithvi Apartments, Altamount Road, had lodged a complaint stating that the accused promised him a Hyundai Verna, telling him that he would also take care of the documentation and ensure that the vehicle was delivered at his house at the earliest.

"So, Vyas paid Rs 13 lakh to Shah who after taking the money switched off his mobile phone and started avoiding him. Vyas then approached us and registered a complaint. Shah has been booked under section 420 of the IPC," said a police officer from Gamdevi police station. "Shah's family had even lodged a complaint saying that Shah had gone missing during a visit to Pune. But while investigating the case we landed at his Kandivli residence and found him inside.u00a0

We have recovered Talsania's sports bike, which is valued at Rs 3 lakh," said Jaywant Mane, senior inspector at Dindoshi police station. The policemen said that the accused had cheated several people, taking their old cars and additional money, while promising them brand new cars at discounted rates. u00a0