Mumbai: Kherwadi police nab history-sheeter for defrauding Rs 55 lakhs

Accused Poonam Khanna

Mumbai Police arrested a history-sheeter who posed as a lawyer and duped victims under the guise of providing legal consultancy. The accused, Poonam Khanna (53) was arrested by Kherwadi cops after the Supreme Court did not grant her anticipatory bail on January 10. She had previously approached the sessions court and Bombay High Court for anticipatory bail, but her pleas were rejected.

A police official told mid-day, "We arrested her from Hotel Radhakrishna in Amboli, Andheri on January 29."

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He added, "Acting on a tip-off and thorough technical investigation, we have arrested her. Three cases of cheating and criminal breach of trust has been registered against her across the city. We are investigating the matter. We suspect that the lady has duped several other people."

Previously, the Bombay High Court had rejected her bail application and held that a custodial inquiry of the accused was necessary. Anath Singh, lawyer, said, "The HC said custodial interrogation was necessary to know how many victims were duped by her."

Poonam met her victims through common acquaintances; she claimed to be a lawyer by profession and claimed that she had good connections with politicians and top counsels. She then swindled money from them but never provided services.

According to the police, in 2019, the accused approached the complainant and claimed she was an advocate and could provide legal consultancy. Khanna, after taking Rs 50 lakhs, did not provide any consultancy nor did she return the money after which the victim approached the police and filed an FIR.

The cops added that a similar case was registered against her at Trombay Police Station. In a case dated 2019, she had duped an NGO Earth Bridge Foundation of Rs 5 lakhs. The official said, "She had promised Dr PV Subramaniam who's one of the founders of the NGO, had promised that she would provide legal help in fighting a case against the shootout order of tigress Avni."

Khanna, in another case dated 2009, was booked by police for posing as a real estate agent and selling an MHADA apartment in the city by forging papers. The police officer said that they suspect she is likely to have duped many others with the flat sale charade as well.