Travel agency dupes 30 people of Rs 1.46 crore, 1 arrested

A south Delhi-based travel agency allegedly took Rs 1.46 crore from over 30 people, including a broadcasting ministry officer, on the pretext of selling them holiday packages, said police on Sunday.

A south Delhi-based travel agency allegedly took Rs 1.46 crore from over 30 people, including a broadcasting ministry officer, on the pretext of selling them holiday packages, said police on Sunday.

Representational Image.

The agency that is suspected to be part of a larger racket cancelled flight tickets and other bookings without informing the clients. He had charged the clients for these. The bookings were made after the clients agreed to avail themselves of the holiday packages offered by the agency.

One person has been arrested in the cheating case. Efforts were on to identify others, said a police officer.

“Once the clients realised they were cheated, the agency was shut down and employees disappeared. Its office was near South Extension,” said the officer.

The crime came to light after the I&B ministry official, who had booked a package for Srinagar, approached the police and lodged a complaint. In his case, when he managed to contact one of the directors of the company, he claimed his partner had gone missing.

Soon the police came across 29 other complainants and a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy was registered at the Kotla Mubarakpur Police Station. The agent had reportedly duped people of over Rs 1.46 crore, the officer said.

“We are identifying the suspects in the case. One of the accused identified by our team has been arrested. He is being interrogated to know the whereabouts of others. Our teams are trying to unearth the racket,” the officer added.