Mumbai: Amboli police have arrested a two-time Shiv Sena ex-corporator for cheating at least four people to the tune of Rs 36 lakh. The accused, Vishnu Koregaonkar, had lured the victims by promising them flats at reasonable rates since he claimed he owned the plot of land. A case was registered against Koregaonkar in January, but he was arrested on Wednesday night.
According to the police, Koregaonkar, a two-time local corporator (2006 and 2012), had a good rapport with the locals. Several people had approached him during that time, requesting him to get them a house at a cheaper rate. Back then, Koregaonkar could not help them, however, after he lost the elections, he approached the residents with a housing scheme in 2012.
He promised the victims to construct houses at a very reasonable rate on his own land near Surajpada at Amboli, in Andheri West. However, Koregaonkar’s fake promises were not fulfilled, the complainants grew tense and began demanding refunds.
Police Inspector (PI) Radhesham Sharma said the complainant, Ms. Kulkarni, a physically challenged woman, approached Amboli police in January and registered a complaint against Koregaonkar. “Kulkarni in her complaint said, she has been cheated of Rs 6.50 lakh. During the investigations, it was revealed, Koregaonkar had used the same modus operandi to cheat three others. He cheated all four complainants of Rs 36 lakh,” said PI Sharma.
More people are suspected to be victims of this crime and at present four complaints have come on record, he added. After registering a First Information Report (FIR) against Koregaonkar, police recorded statements of the complainants and later the accused.
A detailed inquiry was conducted for two months and Koregaonkar was arrested on Wednesday night and booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating (section 420), criminal breach of trust (section 406), forgery (section 465, 471) and common intention (section 34). He was produced in a local magistrate court on Thursday and was remanded in police custody.