Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 16: In a shocking case of betrayal, the Shivaji Park Police have registered a case against a 43-year-old man for allegedly cheating his childhood friend of Rs 1.25 cr by fabricating a tale of frozen assets and offering bogus property deals in return.
The accused, Sandeep Anant Dhanawade, allegedly posed as a vice president at Tata Consultancy Services and claimed that Rs 33 cr of his funds had been frozen by the Income Tax Department. To unlock the amount, he told his friend Deepika Jayendra Patil, 41, that he required a financial contribution of Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 cr.
Patil, who works as an operations manager at Wipro Ltd. in Airoli and resides in Chembur, trusted Dhanawade owing to their long-standing friendship. Between March 2019 and July 2021, she provided him with financial assistance in return for promises of property ownership.
Dhanawade allegedly presented documents such as a sale agreement, share certificate, and property papers, listing Patil and her daughter as nominees for flats in Dadar East and Shivaji Park.
Police said Patil gave Rs 76 lac in cash and Rs 49 lakh by selling her gold jewellery. Out of the total, Rs 38.31 lac was transferred to Dhanawade’s ICICI Bank account, Rs 24.30 lac deposited via ATMs, and Rs 13.40 lac handed over in person at multiple locations, including Sofitel Hotel in BKC and Chembur Railway Station.
Realizing she had been duped and that the promised properties would never be transferred, Patil approached the police.
Based on her complaint, Dhanawade has been booked under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
An investigation is underway.