08 February,2009 06:15 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
Junaid Ahmed's sister got cancer and his father's business went bust, so this computer science student turned to crime
HE dreamt of making a career in computer engineering, but his family circumstances and inability to pay the examination/hostel fees compelled him to give up his studies and opt for crime.
Since January 31, Junaid Ahmed (27), a native of Patna, is lodged at Thane Central Jail along with his close friend Prabhat Kumar Tiger (25) for allegedly duping a financial institution of Rs 97,000. Pantnagar police arrested them for forgery and cheating two months after registering the crime.
Forced to give up studies
According to Sub Inspector A J Shinkar, the investigating officer, Junaid came to Mumbai in 2004 after clearing his HSC with over 70 per cent marks. Junaid managed to secure admission in the outstation category for BSC (Computer Science) and even got accommodation in the college hostel.
However, when Junaid was in his second year, his father Shabir Ahmed's business suffered heavy losses and he couldn't afford to support his son financially. At the same time, Junaid's younger sister Nadira (name changed) was diagnosed for cancer and his parents landed under heavy financial debts. As a result, Junaid had to abandon his studies, said the officer.
Partner in crime
Junaid was then compelled to take a marketing job with a private bank in the personal loan department, where he first met Prabhat Kumar (25). Both from Patna, the two formed a friendship and quit the bank after they had put in a few years.
In November 2008, Junaid applied for a personal loan from a private financial institution in Ghatkopar and was sanctioned a loan of Rs 45,000. Junaid scanned the cheque and made a copy of it before depositing it. Then, using the photoshop software, he manipulated the amounts on the cheque and forged the signature of the authorized signatory of the financial institution.
Instead of depositing the forged cheque into his account, Junaid requested Prabhat to deposit the same in his ICICI, Ghatkopar branch savings account. Surprisingly, the cheque was cleared and they withdrew nearly Rs 75,000 through the ATM over regular intervals.
Caught and booked
The forgery came to light when a senior ICICI official of Ghatkopar branch, during a routine check of cheques that had come to their branch for clearance, found this particular cheque to be forged under the ultra violet rays. The bank informed the financial institution and they lodged a police complaint with Pantnagar police, explained senior inspector Nagesh Lohar.
For nearly two months, the police were searching for the suspects and finally trapped them late January from Lakshmi Nagar in Ghatkopar. The police also recovered Rs 34,000 from them.
"It is unfortunate that such a bright student had to ruin his future by getting into the crime world," commented Lohar.
