Thane: Owners of career guidance company booked for cheating woman of Rs 32.4 lakh

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The police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered an offence against a couple owning an overseas career guidance company for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 32.4 lakh on the pretext of helping her travel abroad for higher studies, police on Saturday, reported news agency PTI.

The police have registered a case under section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against Rakesh Mehta and his wife Stella, who are the CEO and managing director respectively, of the company, an official said, reported PTI.

As per the complaint, the girl's parents had paid a deposit of Rs 12.98 lakh and Rs 19.45 lakh to the company for their daughter's admission to two universities abroad between February 2021 and September 2021, he said, reported PTI.

However, the girl was admitted to another university and sought a refund from the company. The alleged accused did not return the money and kept giving them evasive replies, the official said, adding that a probe is underway and no arrests have been made, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, a security guard and three others allegedly broke into a flat in a housing society and decamped with gold and cash worth Rs 35.8 lakh in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday, reported PTI.

An offence has been registered under sections 457 (housebreaking), 380 (theft) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for the incident that took place on Friday night, an official said, reported PTI.

Security guard Gagan Bahadur (48), his wife Suman (46) and two unidentified persons broke into the flat in the Chikanghar area of Kalyan when the occupants were away at a garba event, he said, reported PTI.

The alleged accused climbed to the first floor of the building using a ladder and entered the flat through the bathroom window, the official said, reported PTI.

The accused broke open the locker in the bedroom with a screwdriver and cutter and stole gold jewellery and cash worth Rs 35.88 lakh, he said, reported PTI.

The accused have absconded after the theft and a manhunt has been launched to nab them, the official said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)