Conman dupes travel agency owner of Rs 7.94 lakh cash
   Date :12-May-2019

 
Staff Reporter:
 
Requesting the travel agency owner to exchange USD 12,000 in Indian currency, the conman vanishes with Rs 7.94 lakh cash 
 
POSING as an exporter of ready-made garments, a conman duped a travel agency owner of Rs 7.94 lakh. A resident of Plot No 1, Purohit Layout, Ambazari, Ankush Mahesh Grover (30), who runs a travel agency -- Travel Konnect-- was sitting in his office. A middle-aged man came to his office and introduced himself as Chandru from Hyderabad. He told Grover that he exports ready-made garments and was in dire need of Indian currency. He also told him that he had USD 12,000 with him and was willing to exchange those in Indian currency.
 
After some time he left. On April 26, he came again and showed USD 12,000 to Grover. He requested Grover to exchange those in Indian currency. After gaining Grover’s confidence, he gave his cell number to him and asked him to bring Rs 7.94 lakh cash at Hotel Pride where he was staying. When Grover went to his room in Hotel Pride, he took Rs 7.94 lakh cash from him. He asked Grover to sit for a while so that he would bring the USD 12,000. Grover waited for 10-15 minutes but he did not return to his room. Grover contacted him on his cellphone but it was switched off.
 
When Grover contacted the receptionist, he was shocked to hear from her that the guest had already checked out. Following Grover’s complaint, Sonegaon Police registered a case under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and launched a search for the conman. Speaking to ‘The Hitavada,’ Grover informed that police checked the footage of CCTV cameras and found him boarding a private taxi. The taxi dropped him near Empress Mall, he added. Grover said that he had videographed the conman when he was keeping the cash in a polyethene bag in Hotel Pride.
 
The conman had duped several travel agents and others in different cities, he added. Grover believes that he was the same conman arrested by Pune City Police in August 2016 for duping a jeweller of 120 gold coins.