On July 20, Powai-based businessman Kamlesh Kantilal Jain’s belief in the adage ‘never judge a book by its cover’ was reconfirmed. The 28-year-old almost fell in the trap of two conmen in swanky BMWs claiming to be relatives of the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
The two youths—Rohan Aalagiri Sukhawa, 19, and Ramesh Kumar Kamraj, 21—were arrested by Khar police for cheating Jain. Both are residents of Bangalore, the police said.
According to the police, the duo had rented a plot at Virgo Heights on 16th Road, Khar (West). They used to roam around in BMWs with VIP numbers, they also had five to seven security guards with them at all times. They wore expensive clothes, jewellery, wrist watches and carried expensive mobile phones.
“They would frequent a garment shop, Aura. There they befriended the shop owner Nilesh Chajed,” said KMM Prasanna, deputy commissioner of police. Prasanna said that Sukhawa introduced himself as M Karunanidhi’s grandson.
Explaining the sequence of events that led to the arrest, Prasanna said, “On July 10, Chajed introduced Jain to Sukhawa and Kamraj. While talking to them, Sukhawa said that he had three Honda Accord cars of 2008 make for sale. He said that he could arrange for the cars to be sold without paying any taxes since he had several contacts in Tamil Nadu.”
Jain was intrigued and expressed interest in purchasing the vehicles. Sukhawa then asked him for a token amount of Rs5 lakh.”
Between July 13 and 17, Jain paid them the token in installments. After receiving the money, Sukhawa signed a promissory note on the letterhead of a company Balaji Constructions and Infrastructure India, having its offices in Dubai and Thailand.
“They never showed any cars to Jain. He started to worry after they did not deliver the vehicles on the decided date. When he would ask them, they would give him some flimsy excuse. This made Jain suspicious,” said Prasanna.
Jain then investigated the duo and learnt that the flashy vehicles they were travelling in were hired from a car rental company in Andheri for Rs18,500 per day. Similarly, the plot where they were staying was taken on a rent at Rs7,000 per day.
“On Monday, Sukhawa and Kamraj once again came to visit Chajed’s garment shop. However, they weren’t aware that Jain was waiting for them over there,” Prasanna said.
As soon they entered the shop, Jain caught them and called the police control room.
“A case of cheating has been registered against the two at Khar police station. They have been remanded in police custody till July 27 by a local court,” said Prasanna.
