MUMBAI: A father-son duo was arrested by Malad police for cheating motorists by claiming there was a mechanical defect with their car and pretending to fix it. Arif Shaikh (48) and his son, Faizal Shaikh (23), have several past criminal cases registered against them.
On November 18, a motorist, M Suryakant, was near HP Petrol Pump at Malad west when an auto driver told him there was smoke emanating from the vehicle. When Suryakant halted, the auto driver (later identified as Faisal) opened the car's bonner on his own accord and claimed there were sparks flying. He stopped a passerby (his father, Arif) and claimed the latter was a mechanic.
Arif examined the vehicle and said there was an issue with some spare parts. He added that he could repair the vehicle at a charge of Rs 8,000. He even dialled someone's number, claiming the man was his employer, and made Suryakant speak to him over phone to gain Suryakant's confidence.
Once, Suryakant agreed to get his vehicle repaired, Arif fiddled with it and took a sum of Rs 8,000. Later, Suryakant discovered that his phone was missing from his car. Realising that he had been cheated, he lodged a police complaint.
Malad police showed him images of habitual offenders from their record. Suryakant identified Arif and Faisal's photographs. The police then intercepted the father-son duo's call records and nabbed them on December 5. They have been remanded into police custody till December 8.
Arif has been booked in three cases in the past by Malad, Daighar and Powai police. Faisal has been booked in five cases in the past by Bangur Nagar, Kurar and Malwani police.