Nashik: A farmer in Nashik district has been defrauded of a huge amount of 1.44 crores in a liquor permit racket, as per police sources. The victim, who lives in Niphad, was enticed by a man based in Kalyan in the Thane district, to promise to grant him a liquor shop licence in Navi Mumbai.
The accused told the farmer that he would get him a transfer of a liquor shop licence at Panvel, Navi Mumbai, in his name. The farmer and his brother gave the money to him as he had convinced them that he would give them back the money in two months and, therefore, made several payments to him between July 2024 and January 2025, amounting to 1.44 crore.
It was found through investigations that out of the money that was collected, the accused offered 61 lakh to the original licence holder, but misappropriated the rest 83 lakh. The licence was never transferred to the farmer despite repeated undertakings. When challenged, the accused, among others, has tried to soothe the victim through the issuance of cheques as a way of repaying her. Nevertheless, all these cheques bounced, and the scam was further revealed.
The victim would have known he had been fooled, and he would have consulted the police. On his complaint, the FIR was registered on August 23 under the 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It is true that the accused did not pay up the money or take any action to secure the transfer of the licence.
Police have initiated a thorough enquiry into the case that underlines how individuals are being overtly approached under fraudulently constructed claims of securing a liquor licence, a business known to be highly profitable in Maharashtra. The Government has discouraged people from taking precautions and seeking official channels to ensure the authenticity of any financial deal involved.
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