Car Rental Scam: Doctor defrauded, car stolen for liquor smuggling

Mumbai: A Ghatkopar-based doctor has allegedly been defrauded by a 25-year-old man and his four accomplices in a car rental scam. They have been booked for deceiving the doctor and escaping with his vehicle, which was later found to have been used for smuggling liquor into Gujarat, a dry state, police said.

The arrested suspect, a 25-year-old man, along with five accomplices, carried out the crime by renting a car from a well-known car rental company. Police stated that two of the accused worked alongside the 25-year-old accused in Mumbai, while the remaining suspects were located in Rajasthan. The incident came to light when the doctor, seeking additional income, had rented out his vehicle through the car rental company.

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Speaking to the Indian Express, a police officer said, “The doctor’s family was looking for extra income, for which they had been renting out their vehicle through a prominent car rental company. The accused allegedly approached him through the company and took the vehicle on rent for three days from Ghatkopar on November 18.”

However, after the rental period ended, the car was not returned, and the accused became unreachable. Growing suspicious, the doctor contacted the Ghatkopar police, and on December 17, a case was officially registered.

According to the news reports, using mobile phone records provided by the complainant, the police traced the main accused. Their investigation led them to Bhiwandi, where the main accused was located. A trap was set, and on January 17, he was arrested. However, the other two accused who were reportedly working with the main accused in Mumbai, remain at large.

During the investigation, one of the accused revealed that he had handed over the vehicle to the duo based in Rajasthan. A team was then dispatched to Rajasthan, where the duo admitted to using the vehicle to smuggle liquor into Gujarat. While they were not arrested, legal notices have been served to them following the provisions of the law.

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