A TV serial actress based in Mira Road has claimed that she, her family, relatives and friends, about 15 people, were duped of over Rs 37.5 lakh by four people, who lured her into an investment scheme and promised her huge returns. Pratima Nikose made a profit on her initial investment, after which she convinced her relatives and friends to invest in the company, which turned out to be fraudulent. The police have booked the four people allegedly involved in the fraud.

Tempting returns

The complainant said she knew one of the accused, Mahesh Manjrekar, a resident of Virar through her sister. Nikose said in her complaint that in 2018 her sister told her Manjrekar had asked her to invest Rs 1,000 in a company called AAFC, which was Dubai based, and had an office in Andheri. As she trusted Manjrekar, Nikose also invested Rs 1,000 on a promise that she would get 3 per cent profit every day if she got more people to join the scheme.