The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has recently arrested a woman who allegedly used to dupe businessman by posing as ‘high profile media personality’. The woman, namely, Payal Samuel aged 32-years was arrested from Mumbai on August 15, 2018, vide FIR No. 202/18, Dt. 06.08.2018, u/s 420 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, P.S. Crime Branch, Delhi. She was also wanted in two other cases of similar nature in Bhopal.
Complainant Ravi Patel, who runs a leading travel agency providing online air tickets and hotel bookings having its office at Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, made a complaint against Payal, who had defrauded him to the tune of Rs. 30 Lakh (approx.) within one and half month by purchasing air tickets (domestic as well as international), foreign exchange and hotel bookings etc.
As per police, Payal Samuel approached the complainant on June 9th, 2018, giving reference of a known contact of the complainant and misrepresented herself as Vice President of an English News Channel. She purchased air tickets, foreign exchange and hotel bookings for her customers on credit which rose alarmingly.
As an inducement, she offered huge business worth crores of rupees to the complainant. When the complainant demanded his money, she started delaying the payment on frivolous excuses. Suspecting the conduct of Ms. Samuel, the complainant and his suppliers checked on the internet and got shocked to learn that she was not the VP of the News Channel she claimed. They even found various news articles from the newspapers which disclosed that she had cheated several businessmen in Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh using the similar tactics. The complainant then filed a written complaint on April 21, 2018, with the Crime Branch, Delhi.
An investigation was taken up over the registered FIR and a team was constituted under Dr. Ram Gopal Naik, DCP/Crime. During the investigation, the team cross-checked the claims made by Ms. Samuel and found that she had impersonated to be the Vice President of a leading media house and news channel. Further, it was revealed that a case of cheating was also registered against her in Bhopal over the charges of cheating a businessman named Chander Vadhwani, in the year, 2012.
The accused was frequently changing her locations between Pune and Mumbai. Hence, through a technical input, a trap was laid and she was apprehended in the evening of August 15th, 2018 in Mumbai and was later brought to Delhi.
The accused woman was subjected to sustained interrogation which revealed that she used to pose herself as a senior executive of various reputed firms to gain proximity to persons in senior positions in politics and bureaucracy. She also used to get herself introduced and recommended to big jewellers or travel agents so that she could cheat them in her unique style. She would approach her targeted businessman and by using high profile reference she would place very large orders. She would take the delivery of services/goods in lieu of cheques and later, the cheques used to bounce. By this modus operandi, she had cheated many businessmen of Delhi, Mumbai, and Madhya Pradesh.
It is also revealed that apart from cheating, she has also been charged under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 for cheque bounce.
As per police, efforts are being made to trace her other associates in this cheating syndicate; wherein, further investigation is in progress.
