Conman uses MLAs' names to dupe traders

Officials of the crime branch (unit XI) have arrested a man, who with his other associates had allegedly taken money from businessmen from the western suburbs by using many MLA’s names in the pretext of helping poor people in the area. The arrested man has been identified as Rajesh Mishra, 47.

“The accused, Mishra called a Kandivli based businessman Ranbir Singh Chabra, owner of National Dairy and introduced himself as MLA Yogesh Sagar of Charkop. He demanded Rs25,000 from him as donation. Mishra told Chabra that the money would be used to buy ambulances and organise a medical camp for poor people of the area,” said a crime branch officer.
The incident came to light  when Chabra met Sagar and told him that he had given money to his men for his trust.

“Chabra and Sagar, both filed complaints at the Kandivli police station. We found that this is big gang operation and that they have cheated several businessmen using the names of MLAs Gopal Shetty, Pravin Darekar and Subhash Desai,” said an officer. Subhash Desai has also filed a similar complaint at the Bangur Nagar police station.

“We arrested Mishra from the Plus hotel near Charkop depot. He confessed during the interrogation. Few more people are involved but they are still large. We are trying to trace them,” said assistant commissioner of police J Hargude. Mishra will be produced in court on Wednesday.