3 of family among 5 booked for duping relative of Rs 1.28 cr on promise of jobs

Nagpur, Jul 5 (PTI) Police have registered a case of cheating against five persons, including a couple and their 30-year-old daughter, for allegedly cheating their female relative of Rs 1.28 crore by promising higher-level positions in an educational institution to her and her family members in Nagpur, officials said.

The complaint in this connection was lodged by Bharti Harkande (50) at the Hudkeshwar police station here, they said on Saturday.

The prime accused in the case, Nilkanth Dashrath Dahikar (60), is a maternal uncle of the complainant. His wife Savita (52), daughter Ashu (30) and two relatives, Rahul Dhanoji Dahikar (35) and Gulab Dhondaba Dahikar (45), all residents of Gadchiroli district, have also been booked.

The accused collected money from the complainant from time to time between 2011 and 2024, an official said.

These accused are connected with the Shantivan Apang Niradhar Adivasi Vikas Shikshan Sanstha, an institution in Gadchiroli, he said.

The complainant said her uncle Dahikar took Rs 48 lakh from her promising to make her the president of that institution. They also took Rs 45 lakh from the husband of Harkande's sister for a job in there and Rs 15 lakh for appointing her husband as its vice-president. The remaining amount was taken under the pretext of providing jobs to her relatives, the police official said.

"However, no jobs or posts were given as promised. When the complainant demanded her money back, the accused gave her a cheque of Rs 48 lakh, which was rejected by the bank due to insufficient balance in the account," he said.

Police have booked the accused under charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation, and common intention. PTI COR NP