Mumbai: Businessman dupes at least 15 people of Rs 94.15 lakh

The accused, Sanjay Kabira, counts money in his office

The Malad police have booked a Gujarat-based businessman for allegedly cheating at least 15 people to the tune of Rs 94.15 lakh. The accused, Sanjay Kabira, 35, would get people to invest money in his car rental company offering high returns and also took money under the pretext of offering well-paying jobs abroad.

The fraud came to notice when a 53-year-old businessman from Dahisar filed a complaint against the accused. As per the complaint, the victim got to know the accused through a common friend five years ago. Kabira had asked the victim to invest money in his car rental business, but he refused.

However, during the pandemic in 2020, the victim's friend took her to Kabira's office in AK Business Centre in Malad West. The accused runs a business under M/s SM Business Center and M/s Son Sitara Multi trade Private Limited which provide cars on rent to various five-star hotels.

Sanjay Kabira

Kabira told the complainant that if she invests Rs 1.9 lakh as down payment for an Innova car worth Rs 19 lakh and lets Kabira's firm put it to use for a period of five years, he would pay her a monthly rent of Rs 96,000. After the EMI, driver's salary, taxes and other expenses are deducted, the complainant would make a profit of Rs 42,000 per month. As the complaint's business had come to halt during the lockdown, she paid the amount, said a police officer.

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Kabira had used similar modus operandi to dupe several others and had also taken money from some under the pretext of getting them jobs abroad. As the investors did not get returns and job aspirants did not get offer letters, they started visiting Kabira's office. However, the accused closed the office and stopped responding to them.

Following this, the victims approached Malad police station and filed a complaint. During the investigation, cops learnt that more than 80 people were duped. Cops have recorded the statements of 15 victims who were duped of Rs 94.15 lakh, said a police officer. The police have registered a case under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC. No arrests have been made yet.

Kabira told mid-day, "I did not mean to cheat anyone. I, too, have been cheated by a friend. When I was called by the police, I told them the same thing. I am ready to return the money, but will need some time as I need to sell my flat first."