Versova police in January arrested a 39-year old real estate agent for allegedly cheating a television actor of Rs. 1.09 lakh under the pretext of renting him a flat.
The accused, Samarth Bhaindarkar offered a flat in Versova to the actor on rent where he was a tenant.
According to the police, the accused had cheated several other victims using this same modus operandi.
Ram Shankar Singh, who has been the victim of Mr Bhaindarkar had filed a first information report (FIR) under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology against the accused in January.
“He was bought in for questioning and after some time was bailed,” said API Soham Kadam to MaverickTimes, who is the lead inspector on this case.
He has ransacked people by taking lakhs of rupees. He is said to be mainly targeting girls as he thinks they are easily manipulative. He has been conning people by asserting that he is a Builder and a Serial producer.
Rahul Varshney who in a post on his Facebook alerted people about this happening, is closely following the case.
“He took Rs. 2.50 lakh in the pretext of making me a partner in his business. He said he needed the money for the deposit of the office. But he spent all the money on his girlfriend and did not return a single penny.” Says one of the victims who chose to be kept anonymous. The victim further adds, “I filed an FIR against him in Oshiwara Police Station but he was already in the police custody. The money he took was my father’s retirement savings, and now there are no savings left.”
“A fresh FIR has been filed against Samarth Bhaindarkar,” said API Soham Kadam. He further added, “Two notices have been sent to Mr Bhaindarkar, but he has refused to come in for questioning and claims to have had an operation.”
API Soham Kadam, while talking to the MaverickTimes urges people to verify the authenticity of the broker before handing over the money. He further adds, “People who have been the victim to this man, do come forward and help the police in catching him.” The police are still pursuing the case
