A woman conductor with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking was allegedly cheated of ₹2.01 lakh by a conman who promised jobs in the Indian Navy. The accused posed as a Navy officer and used forged identity cards, fake appointment letters and online receipts to gain the victim’s trust, eventually defrauding her in the name of recruitment.
According to police, the complainant, Sarika Rokde (40), is employed as a conductor with BEST and resides in Ghatkopar (West). In her complaint, she stated that in June 2025, while on duty at the JJ Hospital bus stop, she met a man identified as Vinod Gaikwad, who introduced himself as an officer in the Indian Navy. To appear genuine, the accused showed her a fake appointment letter and claimed he could facilitate recruitment into the Navy.
The accused later offered to secure clerk posts in the Navy for the complainant’s two daughters. On various pretexts such as medical certificates, uniform stitching, hostel fees and security deposits, he allegedly collected multiple online payments from the victim. However, as the training and joining dates kept getting postponed, the complainant grew suspicious.
She subsequently visited the Navy office at INS Shikra in Colaba, where she was informed that no person by the said name was employed there. Soon after, all mobile numbers used by the accused were found to be switched off. Realising that she had been cheated, the woman approached the police.
Based on her complaint, the Ghatkopar police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated further investigation.