Builder, two others duped of Rs 18.19 lakh in Thane district; two booked

A 64-year-old builder and two others were allegedly cheated of Rs 18.19 lakh by two persons who promised to secure business loans for them in Maharashtra's Thane district.

A 64-year-old builder and two others were allegedly duped of Rs 18.19 lakh by two persons with the promise of securing business loans for them in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Friday.

The police have booked Nikhil Madan Bhoir, a resident of Dombivli, his accomplice Raja Joshi, along with another unidentified person, under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (joint liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, based on a complaint filed by the builder on Thursday, the official said.

He said the accused approached the builder in April, promising to facilitate a business loan of Rs 15 crore from a private moneylender, and under the pretext of processing fees, stamp duty, and registration charges, they induced him to pay Rs 13.50 lakh through bank transfers and cash.

However, no loan was ever sanctioned, and the accused failed to return the advance money, he added.

''During the same period, the principal accused, Nikhil Bhoir, targeted two more individuals using a similar modus operandi. Bhoir defrauded a 42-year-old woman, currently lodged in the Aadharwadi Jail, under the pretext of arranging funds and legal work for her,'' the official said.

In all, the accused cheated three persons of Rs 18.19 lakh without delivering any of the promised loans or services, he said, adding that efforts are on to trace the absconding accused.