Suspended constable held again for cheating businessman of Rs 8 lakh

It seems once bitten twice shy, is not an adage this constable knows. Suspended in a robbery case, he was arrested again yesterday for cheating a businessman and his brother to the tune of Rs 8 lakh. Constable Subhash Babar had taken the money in 2013, for ‘helping' the victims get a flat under the SRA scheme.

In 2013, Babar had promised the victim, Mohanbhai Kukrecha, that he would help him get a flat at the Kumbharwada SRA project in Chembur. But after accepting the money, Babar neither returned it nor helped Kukrecha, who brought the matter to the notice of the Chembur police. The evidence available with Kukrecha was given to the police who then investigated the matter.

The robbery
The police on Monday registered an FIR against Babar, who was attached with the Crime Branch of Mumbai police until 2011, when he was suspended after being arrested in connection with a robbery case registered with the LT Marg police station. Six persons, including Babar were arrested by the police on February 18, 2011, for allegedly decamping with R27 lakh of a Zaveri Bazaar-based businessman.

Babar was booked for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

An officer said, "We had received a written complaint against him. After gaining the victim's confidence, Babar took the money but did not keep his word. When the victim learned he was cheated, he filed a complaint with the police, and following that, the FIR was registered against Babar."

DCP (Zone VI) Shahaji Umap said, "An offence under Sections 420 and 406 of IPC has been registered against suspended police constable Subhash Babar, who had accepted Rs 8 lakh from the complainant and his brother, promising to give them a flat at Kumbharwada, Chembur under SRA scheme. He accepted the said amount in 2013."