In a major breakthrough, Dehradun police have arrested four swindlers and recovered Rs 2 lakh from them. The swindlers allegedly cheated several students and doctors by posing themselves as owners and administrative officers of Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Jolly Grant and promising them admission in PG course there. Investigation revealed that the accused cheated two persons of around Rs ten lakhs, applying the same modus operendi.
The accused have been identified as 31- year- old Rajiv Rana and 42- year- old Surjeet, natives of Delhi and 46- year- old Satish Negi and 42- year- old Sudhakar, residents of Dehradun, said Dalanwala circle officer Pramod Kumar.
Nehru Colony in-charge Omveer Singh Rawat said that in his written complaint lodged at Nehru Colony Police Station, lakam Dikshapati, resident of Premnagar, stated that he had been acquainted with Satish Negi over internet. “Negi identified himself as Vijay Dhasmana, member Presidential Body of HIHT.
Negi had pasted his photograph on the internet which was almost similar to that of the owner of the facility Dhasmana. Negi had posed himself as the member Presidential Body of HIHT, Jolly Grant and promised me admission in PG course in lieu of Rs 6 lakh. Asked by him, I deposited Rs six lakhs in his bank account for admission in HIHT,” he said, adding that he had been asked him to inform his friends about such admission.
He grew suspicious after a few months as nothing happened. “I approached HIHT officials and came to learn that I had been duped,” he said.
CO Kumar said that taking cognisance of the complaint, a case under sections 420 and 406 of IPC was registered against some unidentified persons in Nehru Colony Police Station. Teams were formed to crack the case. Finally, four persons involved in this case were arrested from Dehradun on Wednesday.
Interrogation revealed that the accused had admitted to their crimes. It is further learnt that Negi was a former manager of a private bank and was thrown out for allegedly indulging in financial irregularities. Police said he was the kingpin of the fraud gang that included two persons from Dehradun and one from Delhi.
He used to identify himself as member Presidential Body of HIHT and his aides, as institute officials before they ventured to trap the gullible in their swindling net. His target was mostly those hailing from South India. Three youths thus duped are learnt to be from Andhra Pradesh. It is further learnt that some doctors had also approached him on internet to get admission in PG courses in HIHT.
