Fraud Case in Thane: Businessman Duped of ₹50 Lakhs by Two Individuals

Thane Businessman Falls Victim to Oil Scam

In Thane district, Maharashtra, a businessman was allegedly defrauded of ₹50 lakhs by two individuals who promised to supply a well-known brand of cooking oil at discounted rates. This information was revealed by an official on Friday.

According to the victim, a resident of Ambernath, the fraudulent activities took place between August 2020 and May 2021. The accused have been identified as Mukesh Pandey and Pallavi Raut, both from Pune.

As per the First Information Report (FIR) filed on December 31, the suspects approached the businessman with an offer to supply oil at prices lower than the market rate. The official stated, "The accused also assured the businessman of substantial profits from reselling the oil."

The police reported that the victim, falling for their scheme, transferred a total of ₹50 lakhs to the accused in several installments. Despite receiving the money, the promised shipment of oil was never delivered.

When the businessman demanded the supply or requested a refund, the accused began to evade him and eventually cut off all communication. Following this, the victim lodged a complaint with the police.

However, the police did not clarify why the victim waited several years before filing the complaint. Efforts are currently underway to locate Pandey and Raut.