Delhi Police has arrested a man for allegedly duping garment traders of lakhs of rupees to tide over the losses suffered in business due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.
The accused has been identified as Sandip Arora, a resident of Geeta Colony in East Delhi. Police said that the accused, using a fake name Rishi to hide his identity, duped garment traders in National Capita.
Police said that the accused, Arora and his associate Vishal were in the garment business but during the lockdown, they suffered huge losses and to tide up the financial losses, they started duping people to earn a quick buck.
“They duped over 15 garment traders by placing orders on credit and in turn delivering the products to multiple sellers at cheaper rates,” said police adding that manhunt has been initiated to nab Vishal, who is absconding.
According to R P Meena, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Southeast district, a probe was initiated on August 30 after a man named Gopal Das, a resident of Tuglakabad Extension, approached police with a complaint against Rishi.
“Das alleged that Rishi had come to his shop a month back and introduced himself as a garment trader. Das, who also runs a garment business in southeast Delhi's Govindpuri, alleged that the accused told him that he recently opened his office in Tuglakabad Extension, and wanted to trade with him in garments,” said the DCP.
“Das told police that he started accepting bulk orders of expensive clothes from Rishi. On August 13, Rishi along with his friend came to Das's office and placed an order of 361 pieces of cloth after paying Rs 20,000 out of total payment of Rs 75,810. Thereafter, on August 29, the accused demanded 600-700 more pieces of clothes. Das delivered a total 640 pieces worth Rs 2 lakh,” said the DCP.
“After collecting the consignment, the accused left Das's office and refused to pay the rest of the payment of Rs. 1,90,000. During investigation, police found out that the accused had duped more than 15 local garment traders using the same modus operandi. It was also found that the real name of the accused was Sandip Arora, said the DCP.
“A case was registered against him under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and on the intervening night of August 30-31, Arora was arrested from his residence in Geeta Colony,” said the DCP.
“During interrogation, the accused told the police that earlier he and his associate Vishal used to run a garments business at Gandhi Nagar and Geeta Colony,” said the DCP.
“During the lockdown, they suffered huge losses and to tide up their losses, they planned to dupe other businessmen to earn a quick buck. Arora started using a fake name so that his identity could not be traced. He then started duping people by placing orders on credit,” said the DCP.
“The accused had duped garment businessmen of approximately Rs 15-16 lakhs and further delivered it to multiple sellers at cheaper rates. He and his associate Vishal divided the money equally and spent the cheated amount on their personal needs,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police.