36-year-old held in Delhi for cheating tech, clothing traders of ₹1 crore

A 36-year-old commerce graduate from Delhi University was arrested for allegedly cheating over two dozen businessmen of around ₹1 crore by, police said on Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said Manish Kaushik, a resident of Ranjit Nagar, was evading arrest in four cheating cases and 14 cheque bounce cases filed by 25 businessmen from Amar Colony.

The cases were registered against Kaushik and his accomplice, Gaurav Chaudhary, between 2017 and 2018 at the Amar Colony police station. Choudhary is absconding, police said.

DCP Biswal said in 2015-16, the duo opened two separate offices on rent in East of Kailash area and presented themselves as dealers of computer items, water purifiers and garments. They contacted 25 distributors from Amar Colony area for business dealings.

“The duo started procuring laptops, computers, water purifiers and clothes in huge quantity from the businessmen after paying token money. They issued post-dated cheques as balance payment. But when the cheques bounced and the businessmen started approaching them for their payment, the duo closed their offices, switched off their cell phones and went missing,” said Biswal.

The DCP said when the businessmen found themselves cheated, they approached the court and the local police with complaints. Cases were registered and investigation was taken up. The investigating team conducted raids in Delhi and other states. However, the suspects could not be found.

“Amar Colony police teams continued their efforts and finally arrested Kaushik from Delhi Ranjit Nagar area on Sunday evening after they were tipped-off about his presence. Kaushik revealed that the procured items were sold in grey markets on cheaper rates. We are now looking for Chaudhary,” added Biswal.