A chartered accountant in Mumbai was duped of Rs. 1.64 crore by a man posing as a secretary for a Jodhpur-based company. The victim, Bharat Dhanji Gala, a 59-year-old professional from Dadar, fell prey to an elaborate scam orchestrated by Mohammad Akram Abdul Sattar, the accused.
According to the Free Press Journal, The Bhoiwada police have registered a case against Akram, a resident of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and launched an investigation into the incident. According to police reports, the scam began in January 2024 when Akram visited Gala’s office in Dadar East, claiming to have strong business connections with prominent industrialists Praful Patel and Ravi Jain.
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During their meeting, Akram assured CA that he could help him secure a high-value accounting project through his associate, Ashish Agarwal, a well-known businessman from Jaipur who was allegedly establishing new companies due to a family property division dispute. Akram convinced Gala that these firms would require registration, GST filing, and taxation services, presenting it as a huge opportunity.
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Trusting Akram’s assurances, chartered accountant transferred Rs. 1,64,56,944 to the bank accounts provided by the accused. The payments were made through various digital platforms, including online banking and Google Pay. To arrange for the funds, Gala took out bank loans, used credit cards, and borrowed money from friends and relatives.
However, when Gala demanded his money back, Akram initially assured him that repayments would begin on September 23, 2024. He further promised to issue six cheques of Rs. 20 lakh each and an additional Rs. 45 lakh by September 30, 2024. Despite these promises, neither the cheques nor the promised amount materialized.
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Realizing that he had been cheated, Gala filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Akram. The Bhoiwada police have registered a case and are actively investigating the fraud. Police officials have urged citizens to exercise caution and verify the credentials of individuals and companies before entering into financial agreements.
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