Andheri man duped of Rs 23 lakh over liquor license

Mumbai: The Kapoor Bawadi police of Thane has booked a man for allegedly duping a 40-year-old man from Andheri into paying Rs 23.17 lakh under the pretext of getting him a license for opening a liquor shop.

According to the complainant Mahesh Badgujar, the accused Ashutosh Srivastava met him for the first time met him at Bangkok in September 2009 and struck up a friendship with him. Badgujar had gone to Thailand along with his family for vacation.  

Later, when Badgujar went to Riyadh in connection with his work in 2010, the accused offered to procure him a license for opening a liquor shop for Rs 26.17 lakh, which the victim promptly paid, the complaint said.

However, after some time, the victim was informed that the license could not be allotted to him and hence the amount would be refunded. Despite several reminders however, the amount was not refunded and the accused even changed his mobile number and residence.

On pursuance, he made a payment of Rs 3 lakh but did not respond further to the victim’s calls.