Ghatkopar brothers held for conning people with fake tour deals

Avinash Jadhwani has been remanded in police custody till January 10; (right) Akash Jadhwani will be arrested after his discharge from hospital

The Ghatkopar police have booked two brothers for allegedly duping many people of at least Rs 35 lakh on the pretext of selling them tour packages. While one of the brothers has been arrested, the police are waiting to take the other into custody as he has got COVID.

The action against Avinash Jadhwani, 26, and Akash Jadhwani, 21, on a complaint by Dilip Singh, who lives in Ghatkopar. The two also face about 10 more cases of cheating, said cops.

Singh, 45, told the police that the two brothers got in touch with him in 2019 with a business proposal. The duo said they were working on a South Africa tour package for 200 people and Singh could invest in the business and earn a profit.

The brothers took R28 lakh from Singh and his brother saying they would need the money for flight and hotel bookings. Five of Singh's friends also came forward to visit South Africa and collectively paid an advance of Rs 7.5 lakh for the tour.

In January 2020, Singh asked the brothers about the status of the tour. He was told that the number of people for the tour had gone up to 600 and funding the logistics for so many people was taking time. The brothers also gave him a few documents to claim the progress of the venture. They said they operated a tour and travel company called Bharat Tours and Travelers at Fort.

As Singh kept demanding to know more about the programme, the younger brother Akash called him saying Avinash had attempted suicide in Pune due to his pressure. When Singh called up Avinash, the latter's father Rupkumar attended the call and told him that his son had cheated him and many in the name of tour packages.

Following Avinash's suicide attempt, the Pune police also got in touch with Singh, who then sent the details of the cash and cheque payments that he had done to the brothers.

Singh still waited for nearly a year hoping things would be sorted out. Last month, he found that the documents, including the "confirmation from the South African Consulate", given to him by the Jadhwani brothers were fake and that they had no office at Fort. He then filed a complaint with the Ghatkopar police.

"My brother Rajesh and I gave the money to Avinash. When it was confirmed that the Jadhwani brothers had cheated us, we wanted our money back. Avinash gave us a cheque and asked us to deposit it after a week. But he had no money," Singh told mid-day. His brother Rajesh said, "The Jadhwani brothers had lured us with the profits from the tour and we fell into their trap."

Cops said the Jadhwani brothers face cheating cases in Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pimpri Chinchwad. Cases have also been registered at Malabar Hill, DB Marg, Dadar, Cyber Cell BKC and Mulund Police Station in Mumbai.

Jitendra Agarkar, senior inspector of Ghatkopar police station, said, "The brothers have conned many people under the pretext of selling tour packages. We have arrested Avinash. Akash is yet to be arrested as he has tested positive for COVID."

The cops have got the custody of Avinash till January 10.

Rs 35 lakh
Money duped by the accused