Thane trader cheated of Rs 16.57 lakh by Delhi-based mask manufacturer

THANE: A city-based trader had been cheated of Rs 16.57 lakh by a Delhi-based manufacturer of 'three-layer' face mask.
The police said that based on a complaint from Wagle estate area, which deal in manufacture of cloth and trading and was supplying face masks to the companies in Thane, they have registered an offence against the Delhi manufacturer which failed to supply stock of the three-layer face masks.
According to the complaint, the Delhi-based company and its representative, who initially provided them the technical details and procured the order in February 2020 and made the small supply.
After winning the confidence of Thane company, the Delhi-based company went for additional orders from the Thane-based company and started processing it.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Thane company, the sales manager, went to Delhi to confirm the order and get further details and he was taken to their contract manufacturer where the mask was being manufactured.
During the visit, the sales manager inspected the facility and confirmed the order following which the complainant was made to make the payments for the supply in installments before the supply was effected. The order was for the specific mask with a nose clip and thermal punch, the complaint stated.
While the manager wanted to remain in the plant till the delivery was dispatched, the accused assured him to leave and said that the supply would be airlifted and supplied to them.
After he left, the supply of 17 boxes of the masks was made for the company which arrived on March 23, and on inspection it was found that they were of inferior variety and not up to their order, the police said.
Following which when the issue was taken up with the Delhi-based manufacturer, the company was promised that they would get a replacement which did not come through till date. Also, the contractor manufacturer refused to replace the stock.
The complainant then realized that he has been cheated and the payment made by him is gone waste and also the party which ordered for the masks with the Thane-based company also cancelled the same for non-supply.
The Delhi-based company later took advantage of the present pandemic situation and did not replace the stock, the complaint with the Wagle Police stated.
The local police are probing into the case the police added and said that no arrest is made so far in connection with the crime.
The Wagle Estate police have registered an offense under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC against the Delhi-based company.