Andheri doctor duped of Rs 47,000 over tests

This picture has been used for representational purpose

An Andheri-based doctor was recently duped of Rs 47,000 by a man claiming to be an Army jawan, police said. According to the complainant, the unidentified man called to book blood tests for 10 soldiers and cheated the doctor on the pretext of paying him online.

According to police sources, the accused identified himself as Sahil Kumar and claimed to be an officer in the Indian Army. He called up Dr Aneesh Sabnis, the complainant, and enquired about the cost for blood tests of 10 soldiers. Dr Sabnis told him it would cost Rs 30,000, but came down to R26,000 after Kumar sought concessions, according to the complainant.

Kumar lied to him that there is an Army hospital at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, and said the tests would be conducted there. On January 21, the doctor sent his employee to Terminal 2 of the airport and told Kumar that the payment would be done in advance.

On reaching, the employee called up Kumar and told him that he needed a pass to enter the airport, and also asked about the payment. Kumar said he will arrange for the pass. The employee waited for some time and called Dr Sabnis. Dr Sabnis called up Kumar and asked about the payment, following which he was told that there is a protocol in the Army for financial transactions and that he would need to accept a request in the message.

The doctor did as asked, and the accused sent him Rs 1 via Google pay, said an officer from Andheri police station. Kumar then claimed that he had sent Rs 26,000, but the doctor told him that he hadn't received anything. The accused said he sent Rs 26,000 again, but when Dr Sabnis checked his bank account details, he saw that a total of Rs 52,000 had been debited in two transactions.

He called up Kumar who claimed it was a mistake, and sent him Rs 5,000. But when the doctor enquired about the rest of the amount, Kumar hung up. On realising he had been cheated, Dr Sabnis rushed to the Andheri police station and lodged a complaint. By accepting a request from the accused, the doctor had unknowingly given him access to view his phone. We have registered a case under various Sections of the IPC and the IT Act and the investigation is underway, said another officer.