Man arrested for duping 150 people with job offers

MUMBAI: The Byculla police have arrested a 35-year-old man who would pose as a high-profile individual affiliated with a government organisation and then cheat people under the pretext of providing them good jobs. Police said that he has cheated at least 150 people across the state.

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According to the police, the accused has been identified as Kiran Chalu Mangute, who is a resident of Nerul in Navi Mumbai. He was arrested on Sunday following a complaint registered with their police station.

An officer from Byculla police station said, “The complaint was registered a month ago where an individual was duped of Rs 7,000 for a job in Mantralaya as a clerk.”

The police said the accused would contact companies after getting their number.

“Mangute would contact the company and say he was a big government official. Under the pretext of giving them a big consignment, he would build a good rapport with them. Later he would ask them if any of their family members were looking for a job, he would help them get one,” said an officer.

Mangute has used the name of Mantralaya, the police force, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Cidco, the Kalyan Dombivili Municipal Corporation as a means to dupe people, police said.

According to police, the accused was wanted for several years and it was learnt that he has duped more than 150 people across Maharashtra.

An officer said, “We have got the call data records from the accused’s cell phone. We are yet to approach half of the people he contacted through his number.” The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code while he was produced in Mazgaon court on Thursday and has been remanded in police custody.