KOCHI: City police have busted a major scam by arresting a Maharashtra native who allegedly duped a businessmen in Kochi of Rs 1.57 crore.
The man posed as a wholesale fruit and vegetable import and export dealer to dupe the businessmen. The victims were mainly traders in Kochi who hails from north India.
Sameer Ismail Saha, 45, of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, is the arrested person. Officers arrested Saha from Dadar in Mumbai. North police said that Saha used a bogus name, Danish Ali, for his illegal activities in Kochi. “He started ‘Vape Café’ at Kaloor-Kathrikadavu Road in February 2021. The small cafe served north Indian cuisine. Several young north Indian businesspersons who are settled in Kochi used to frequent the place. The cafe was used by the accused to befriend them and eventually dupe them,” said an officer.
The man used to show videos of vegetables and fruits at Maradu market and used to claim that it was his warehouse. He then took money from the victims claiming that a large consignment of vegetables and fruits was stuck at the port. He told them that the money was for cargo clearance, police said. tnn
