The court of First Class Judicial Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Dhurve sentenced Jabalpur residents Shamim Ansari and Mohammad Ghaffar, accused of fraud in the name of Haj pilgrimage, to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000 each. Assistant District Public Prosecutor Kanta Maravi presented the prosecution’s case.

 

She argued that the complainant, Sardar Hakim Baba, was preparing to go on Haj with his wife Shamim Bano and others. The accused, residents of Adhartal and acting as agents, took them into confidence.

 

They stated the cost per person was two lakh ninety thousand rupees. They were asked to deposit the amount into the account of Mohammad Arshad, a resident of Hyderabad. Three lakh eighty thousand account numbers were used to deposit funds. The accused took the passports. When asked for visas and other documents, they began making excuses.