Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Investors Duped in Multi-Crore E-Rickshaw Scam, Accused Arrested in Noida
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 24th August 2024: Along with 125 investors from Pimpri-Chinchwad city, a total of 732 investors across the country were duped out of crores with the lure of earning Rs 31,000 per month by leasing e-rickshaws to companies like Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, and Swiggy, and by investing in various schemes. The couple involved in this scam had absconded but were arrested in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC).
The EOW has arrested Sandeep Kumar Lal Bahadur (resident of Baner, originally from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh) and Seema Mittal (resident of Karnal, Haryana). A case was registered against them in this matter at Wakad Police Station.
A case has been registered under IPC Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant, or by banker, merchant, or agent), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act of 1999.
According to the information provided by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode, the accused had opened a shop named Renttola India Private Limited in Bhumkar Chowk, Wakad. They created an attractive investment scheme under the company’s name and promised lucrative returns. The accused advertised that people could earn Rs 31,000 per month by leasing e-rickshaws to companies such as Paytm Mall, Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Limeroad, and Big Basket, and even offered gold and silver coins upon booking. They included these companies as their delivery partners in the company’s brochures and added the names of companies lik Mahindra and Bajaj as associates and partners.
A franchise plan was prepared, and the accused opened additional offices in Ahmednagar, Navi Mumbai, and Mumbai, duping citizens there as well. Investors were compelled to invest Rs 1,11,000 for each e-rickshaw. Some investors received returns in cash, while others had their leased rickshaws kept as demo units in the company’s showroom without being leased to any company. Some of these rickshaws were parked in a parking lot in Thergaon.
The accused collected around Rs 7 crore from 732 investors through various channels as part of this investment scheme. Afterward, they abruptly shut down the company without prior notice to the investors and closed their office as the company expanded in 2023. A case was registered in this matter at Wakad police station, and the EOW initiated an investigation. On 17th August, the team laid a trap and arrested both accused in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The accused are currently in police custody.
After the case was registered, the police seized the demo rickshaws from the company’s showroom and the parking space in Thergaon. Out of the 61 e-rickshaws leased by investors to the company, 37 rickshaws have been returned to their original owners as per a court order, and the process of returning the remaining rickshaws is ongoing.
This operation was conducted under the guidance of Pimpri Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr. Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Vasant Pardeshi, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode. The EOW team, led by Senior Police Inspectors Madhukar Sawant and Vanita Dhumal, included Police Sub-Inspectors Sameer Dabhade, Sandeep Ingale, Krishna Hari Sapkal, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Sanjay Pawar, and Police Constables Rawate, Komal Naikare, Bhaskar Dighe, and Akash Paradhi.
