Mumbai: The Malad police have registered a case against a tour operator here for allegedly duping a businessman of Rs 1.57 crore. The businessman told the police that he knew the accused tour operator Tejas Shah and had paid him Rs 7 lakh for a trip to New Zealand. He booked a holiday package for 13 nights and 14 days in April 2023. Shah then told the complainant that he needed money and wanted a loan of Rs 1.5 crore. He promised the businessman that he would also pay interest of Rs 23 lakh on the principal amount.
In this regard, the businessman said in a complaint to the police that all the cheques given by Tej Shah bounced. Also, the trip to New Zealand could not be made. After being cheated of a total of Rs 1.57 crore, the businessman contacted the Malad police and lodged a complaint on Monday. Earlier also, the tour operator was arrested along with a family from Kandivali and their five relatives on charges of extorting Rs 20 lakh. These people also booked a trip to South Africa for 12 days and 13 nights. But they were never given any flight ticket or tour details of the accused.
The Samta Nagar police also registered a separate case of fraud against Tejas Shah. In this case, he is accused of charging Rs 4.7 lakh from a government contractor for booking a trip to South Africa. The trip was scheduled for May and the money was accepted in April. But Shah switched off his phone and did not give the flight ticket or travel details to the contractor.
It was found that the tour operator has cheated many people in this way for tours to New Zealand and South Africa. Malad-Samtanagar police has finally registered a case in the case of cheating a businessman of Rs 1.57 crore by luring him with interest and is investigating further.