A man claiming to be a film producer duped actress Varsha Usgaonkar and others of Rs 47 lakh.
Actress Varsha Usgaonkar is among those who have allegedly been victims of a fraud of Rs 47 lakh by a man posing as a film producer. Police has started the investigation of the matter.
Mumbai Police has registered a case against a man for allegedly defrauding actress Varsha Usgaonkar and four others of Rs 47 lakh after promising them lucrative returns on investments, officials said. The accused, identified as Avinash Jadhav, allegedly introduced himself as a film producer and builder to gain the trust of the victims.
According to the police, a case was registered at Shivaji Park police station following the complaint of Mrinalini Subhash Jambhale. quoting police officers PTI It was reported that the accused persuaded the victims to invest in a construction project in Dombivali, promising high returns and repaying the principal amount within a year.
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What does the FIR say about the alleged scam?
The First Information Report (FIR) states that Jadhav introduced himself as both a film producer and a builder while contacting potential investors.
Police officials said they convinced Jambhale to invest money in a construction project located in Dombivali in neighboring Thane district, presenting it as a profitable opportunity. He reportedly assured investors that they would get adequate returns and their original investment would be returned within a year.
This proposal seemed convincing enough for many people, including Varsha Usgaonkar, to fund the project.
How much money was invested in the scheme?
Police officers told PTI The complainant, Usgaonkar and three other persons collectively invested Rs 47 lakh in the project.
The money was transferred between November 2019 and February 2020 through checks as well as online transactions. Initially, the accused reportedly returned Rs 4.52 lakh as part of the promised return.
Officials believe that this early repayment would have been used to generate confidence among investors. However, after this initial payment, no further money was returned to the complainants.
What happened when the victims tried to contact the accused?
After not receiving the promised returns, the complainant allegedly tried to contact Jadhav several times to inquire about the investments.
The accused allegedly changed his mobile phone number and residential address to avoid contact with investors. These actions aroused suspicion among victims, who began to believe they had been defrauded.
Once he realized the situation, the complainant contacted the police and filed a formal complaint detailing the alleged fraud.
What action has the police taken so far?
Following the complaint, Shivaji Park police registered a case against Avinash Jadhav under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, which was in force at the time of the alleged crime.
A case of cheating and criminal intimidation has been registered against Jadhav. Police officials confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing and officials are examining the details of the transactions involved in the case. PTI Informed.
Investigators are also looking into whether the accused might have used similar tactics to target other individuals. Officials indicated that more developments may emerge as the investigation progresses.
The case has drawn attention from the Marathi entertainment industry, highlighting concerns about fraudulent investment schemes targeting individuals through seemingly trusted professional connections.