Pune High-Ranking Official Defrauded of Rs. 3.45 Lakhs in Visa, Ticket Scam
Pune, 9th May 2024: A high-ranking official in Pune’s Private Company fell victim to a fraud scheme, losing lakhs of rupees under the guise of obtaining visas and flight tickets for trips to Dubai and Singapore. The accused operated from Haryana, carrying out the deception between September 30, 2023, and May 8, 2024. Chaturshringi Police have initiated legal proceedings in this case.
The arrested accused has been identified as Sumit Deshwal, residing in Palwal, Haryana. The complainant, aged 53 years and a resident of Baner, lodged a complaint with the police.
According to police, complainant holds a managerial position in a prominent company specializing in security-related products and serves as the Asia Continent Head. As his wedding anniversary approached last year, he planned a trip to Singapore and Dubai with his wife and son. Seeking assistance to arrange flight tickets and visa approvals, he was referred to Deshwal by a friend who purportedly operated a travel agency.
Contacting Deshwal using the provided number, he mentioned the referral. Deshwal, posing as the proprietor of ‘Ready to Fly Holidays’ in Haryana, gained their trust through persuasive communication. They were enticed with promises of acquiring tickets and visas for Singapore. Between September 30, 2023, and May 8, 2024, Deshwal extorted Rs. 3,45,000 from them under various pretexts. He falsely claimed to have booked flight tickets in their names but failed to pay the airlines, resulting in the cancellation of the tickets. Despite the payment, they did not receive their visas.
Upon realizing the deception, the complainant demanded repayment from Deshwal, who repeatedly stalled with promises of reimbursement. He personally visited Deshwal’s residence in Palwal district, Haryana, to reclaim his money but was unable to meet him. Deshwal’s wife disclosed that he had similarly defrauded numerous individuals. Frustrated, he filed a complaint with the Chaturshringi Police.
Assistant Police Inspector Raj Kendre, the investigating officer, revealed that inquiries with the Haryana Police uncovered five to six fraud cases registered against Deshwal. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, as stated by Assistant Police Inspector Kendre.
