Illiterate but running multi-lakh scams: vehicle cheating gang busted

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A gang involved in cheating people through vehicle purchase, sale and rental deals has been exposed, with multiple cases registered at Cidco and Vedantnagar police stations. Complaints have also been filed at City Chowk and Sillod police stations. The accused allegedly take vehicles on purchase or rent and later abscond without paying instalments or dues.

The arrested accused are Sandeep Jadhav and Swapnil Koli (Godri Fatepur, Jalgaon), along with a third accomplice, all taken into custody by Vedantnagar police. In one case, Om Nagale (23, a hotel operator from Navjeevan Colony) sold his car due to a medical emergency in the family. Through a dealer, he met Swapnil, who agreed to purchase the car form Rs 8.11 lakh including loan liability. However, he neither transferred ownership nor paid instalments and later stopped responding. In another case, electrician Tufail Shaikh (29, Silk Mill Colony) alleged that Swapnil took his Rs 20 lakh car on rent and later falsely claimed it was mortgaged to Yusuf Shah, who refused to return it. A case was registered against Swapnil, Sandeep, Nadeem Shaikh and Yusuf Shah.

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Trap using dummy customer

Police inspector Praveena Yadav and polcie sub-inspector Vaibhav More laid a trap using a dummy customer and arrested the accused at Daulatabad. Yusuf Shah was later arrested.

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Multiple victims reported

Police suspect 20–25 victims, with at least eight complainants so far. Investigations revealed that Swapnil, though a school dropout, handled deals, Sandeep (educated up to Class 10) prepared agreements, and Yusuf (studied up to Class 4) was also involved in the racket.