Duo with Zambia connect cheats bizman of Rs 1.63cr

Model Colony resident sent several containers but could not get payment after many requests

A businessman of Model Colony has been cheated of Rs 1.63 crore by two persons on the pretext of doing business in Zambia. A case has been registered against them at Deccan police station following complaint lodged by Vikas Manohar Sawant (59).

The accused have been identified as Ejaz Riaz Sherkar (49) of Bhandari Landmark in Kondhwa, and Pravin Vasant Mate of Shobha Park in Karve Nagar.

Sawant owns an import-export business, Indway International, which he runs from home in partnership with his wife.

In 2016, he met Sherkar, who said that he had been living in Zambia and was importing and selling various goods from India. He had proposed to Sawant to export the required goods.

Sherkar repeatedly contacted Sawant to deal in export business with him.

On Sherkar's request, Sawant first exported school textbooks from a factory in Sangli and then sent the goods to Samrudhi Investment Ltd in Zambia.

After first sending a container, they found Mate’s signature on the purchase order.

Asked about this, Sherkar said that he is the owner of the company. After this, Sherkar and Mate persuaded Sawant to send them electrical goods, saying there is a good demand for electrical goods in Zambia. They also ordered PVC pipes and fittings to Swant.

Sawant has sent about seven different containers of goods to the accused.

However, Sawant is yet to get Rs 1,63,49,130 from them. The two met Sawant after he had contacted them repeatedly. Then, Sherkar promised to repay Sawant but for this he needed to sell his land in Wai.

However, as the complainant has not yet received the amount, he lodged a complaint of cheating case at Deccan police station. The accused, cops learnt, also cheated eight others.

Deepak Lagad, senior police inspector of Deccan, told Mirror, “We are investigating the case registered under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 34 (acts have done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.”