Inspired by TV show, sold fake Navratri program tickets worth Rs 30 lakh, arrested

Mumbai: Busting a fake Navratri event ticket scam worth over Rs 30 lakh, MHB Nagar police station has arrested four people from Mumbai and Virar. The accused had planned the fraud inspired by a television show.

The matter came to light when Borivali businessman Nirav Ji Mehta lodged a complaint that some unknown persons had defrauded the organizers of ‘Rangaratri Dandiya with Kinjal Dave’ and ‘Durgavedi Navratri Utsav Samiti’ along with Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Sunil Rane.

Considering the sensitivity of the case, senior police inspector Sudhir Kudalkar of MHB police station formed a special investigation team comprising Sachin Shinde, Deepak Hinde, Mangesh Kirpekar, Mukesh Kharat, Pradeep Ghodke, Anant Shirsat and Rupali Dingde.

Investigation revealed that a gang led by a web designer allegedly duped over 1,000 people by selling fake ‘season passes’ worth Rs 3,000 for the above-mentioned Navratri show.

The team swung into action and arrested four accused, focusing on the mastermind. Karan A Shah, a 29-year-old web designer from Palghar’s Virar town, said he was inspired by the tele-serial ‘Farzi’.

The police arrested his three other associates Darshan P. Gohil (24), Paresh S. Nevrekar (35) and Kavish B. Patil was arrested at various places in suburban north-west Mumbai.

Senior PI Kudalkar said police have seized 1,000 fake passes, 1,000 hologram stickers worth Rs 10,000, laptops, printers and other equipment, the total value of which is Rs 35.10 lakh, from the accused.

Using tech-intelligence the team also verified the involvement of four people, which was corroborated by around two dozen witnesses who were duped in the scam.

The police team is also searching for at least two other absconding associates. Further investigation is ongoing in this matter.

IANS.