Pune: Car dealer dupes Mumbai businessman of Rs 32.5 lakh
Mihir Tanksale | TNN | Dec 29, 2018, 13:11 IST
(Representative image)PUNE: The Chatushrungi police on Thursday booked a car dealer for duping a Mumbai-based businessman of Rs32.50 lakh after promising to sell him a luxury SUV at a discount.
The complainant, Ankit Patel (31), alleged that the suspect claimed to be an authorized Toyota dealer in Aundh, took money from him and did not deliver the vehicle, despite repeated follow-ups.
When he found out from Toyota that the suspect was not an authorized dealer, Patel lodged a police complaint. The suspect has been booked under IPC sections 420 and 406.
Sub-inspector Vijay Koli told TOI that the complainant was looking online for a good deal on a Toyota Fortuner. “He saw an ad posted by the suspect. A sales executive told Patel that they were an authorized dealer,” Koli said.
On October 31, Patel met the dealer in Pune. “The suspect told Patel that he would offer him a Rs1.5 lakh discount on the Rs34 lakh SUV,” Koli said. “The suspect told Patel that if he paid the money on November 1, the SUV would be delivered on November 7,” Koli said.
Patel agreed to the terms and told the suspect to book the vehicle in his father’s name. The same day, Patel got an email confirmation and the suspect's bank details. On November 1, Patel transferred the money. “On November 6, Patel contacted the suspect and asked for a time of delivery. Th suspect told him the money has been transferred to Toyota, but there was a delay. He said the SUV would be delivered a week later,” Koli said.
The SUV was not delivered on November 13. The suspect told Patel that it would be done by November 25, which also did not happen. Patel sent the suspect an email, demanding that the booking be cancelled and the money refunded. “The suspect promised to return the money in a week, but failed to do so despite multiple reminders,” Koli said, adding, “The suspect finally gave Patel a cheque for Rs32.50 lakh, which bounced.”
At which point, Patel got suspicious and sent an email to Toyota, which said no SUV was booked in his father’s name. The company also told Patel that the suspect was not their authorized dealer, prompting him to approach the police.
The complainant, Ankit Patel (31), alleged that the suspect claimed to be an authorized Toyota dealer in Aundh, took money from him and did not deliver the vehicle, despite repeated follow-ups.
When he found out from Toyota that the suspect was not an authorized dealer, Patel lodged a police complaint. The suspect has been booked under IPC sections 420 and 406.
Sub-inspector Vijay Koli told TOI that the complainant was looking online for a good deal on a Toyota Fortuner. “He saw an ad posted by the suspect. A sales executive told Patel that they were an authorized dealer,” Koli said.
On October 31, Patel met the dealer in Pune. “The suspect told Patel that he would offer him a Rs1.5 lakh discount on the Rs34 lakh SUV,” Koli said. “The suspect told Patel that if he paid the money on November 1, the SUV would be delivered on November 7,” Koli said.
Patel agreed to the terms and told the suspect to book the vehicle in his father’s name. The same day, Patel got an email confirmation and the suspect's bank details. On November 1, Patel transferred the money. “On November 6, Patel contacted the suspect and asked for a time of delivery. Th suspect told him the money has been transferred to Toyota, but there was a delay. He said the SUV would be delivered a week later,” Koli said.
The SUV was not delivered on November 13. The suspect told Patel that it would be done by November 25, which also did not happen. Patel sent the suspect an email, demanding that the booking be cancelled and the money refunded. “The suspect promised to return the money in a week, but failed to do so despite multiple reminders,” Koli said, adding, “The suspect finally gave Patel a cheque for Rs32.50 lakh, which bounced.”
At which point, Patel got suspicious and sent an email to Toyota, which said no SUV was booked in his father’s name. The company also told Patel that the suspect was not their authorized dealer, prompting him to approach the police.
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