False documents, faked heart attack: How Mumbai gang duped jeweller of diamond worth Rs1 crore

Mumbai police recovered the diamond from Jaipur in Rajasthan, where the accused sold it through a broker for Rs38 lakh

False documents and a faked heart attack — Here’s how four members of a gang allegedly duped a jeweller of a diamond worth more than Rs1 crore before they were arrested by the DN Nagar police.

Inspired by a Bollywood film, the accused decided to dupe prominent businessman, said the police. (PHOTO FOR REPRESENTATION ONLY)

Police recovered the diamond from Jaipur in Rajasthan, where the accused sold it through a broker for Rs38 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Imran Sidatar, 37, Firoj Gani Sayyad, 32, Vicky Soni, 34, and Harish Patel, 45. Imran and Firoj are residents of Malad (East), while Vicky lives in Oshiwara and Harish lives in Borivli.

Inspired by a Bollywood film, the accused decided to dupe prominent businessman, said the police. Imran had two cases of cheating lodged against him in Oshiwara and Dindoshi. He mentally prepared himself for the crime, convinced that he would get bail within a month or two if he was caught.

The accused rented an office space at SV Road in Andheri (West), for which they submitted a fake photograph and fake documents, such as Aadhaar cards and PAN cards, using the name Prakash Mehta.

The gang asked the jeweller to visit their office so they could discuss the price of the diamond. On September 18, the jeweller visited the place, said assistant inspector Shriniwas Chewle of the DN Nagar police station.

Four people were working in the office at the time, including two girls and Imran, said the police. Imran took the stone, saying he would examine it at a lab. He told the jeweller to wait in the office, saying he would return in a few minutes.

Imran fled, while girls left the office an hour later, on the pretext of needing to return home early. This made the jeweller suspicious. He called Imran, who told him they could meet near the Andheri (West) regional transport office (RTO). He promised to pay him then.

“The jeweller reached the RTO and called Imran, who said he had suffered a minor heart attack and was admitted to a nearby hospital. Imran promised to meet him within half an hour. He then switched off his phone,” added Chewle.

The jeweller approached the DN Nagar police, who registered a case against the accused, said senior inspector Parmeshwar Ganame.

“We first nabbed Imran, who was hiding at Harish’s house. After questioning Imran, we nabbed Vicky, Harish and Firoj. A police team went to Jaipur and recovered the stone,” added Chewle.

All the accused are now in police custody. Police are still on the hunt for two other gang members.