Mumbai: Youth held for cheating businessman

A 21-year-old youth was arrested for allegedly cheating a businessman and decamping with computers and their spare parts worth Rs 75,000 from his office in suburban Kandivli, police said.

The accused identified as Sameer Bhateeja had collected the computers and their spare parts on behalf of his friend Kunal from the victim Anand Shah and fled from the scene, police said adding that his accomplice Kunal is still absconding.

According to Kandivli police, the victim Anand Shah, who deals in computer spare parts, was phoned by Kunal on January 3 and an order was placed for computer parts.

Subsequently, Anand purchased the parts and was waiting for Kunal to collect them, police said adding that on January 15, Sameer introducing himself as Kunal's friend approached Anand and asked for the computers and their parts.

"Anand immediately phoned Kunal after Sameer asked him to handover the articles. Kunal told Anand to handover the parts. Kunal said that he would make payment in five minutes," S Jaiswal, senior police inspector of Kandivli police, said.

"However, Kunal did not turn up to settle the payment following which Anand realised that he was cheated by the two," Jaiswal said adding that, "He immediately approached the police."

Acting on a tip off, the police officials investigating the case nabbed Sameer at Sindhi Colony in suburban Borivli, Jaiswal said.

"We have recovered 10 new computers, four old computers, their spare parts and three LCD screens worth Rs 3.80lakh. The accused committed similar crimes in suburban Borivli, Malad and Oshiwara. His accomplice Kunal is still absconding," he said.

Sameer was arrested under sections 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code and was remanded to police custody till January 22.