Journalists under scanner for promising woman Mhada house

The police are investigating the role of some reporters who had allegedly cheated a woman of lakhs of rupees by promising her a Mhada flat.

The police are investigating the role of some reporters who had allegedly cheated a woman of lakhs of rupees by promising her a Mhada flat.

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According to the Goregaon police, the journalists work with regional newspapers.

The police had arrested Santosh Rane and Sanket Rane last week after the complainant, Medha Mayekar, lodged a case of cheating against them.

The revelations made by the two have left the police puzzled.

“The two have named more than four journalists who are involved in the scam. However, we are not filing their name [journalists] in the FIR as we are trying to gather evidence against them,” said a police officer from the Goregaon police station on the condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the media.

The two, who are now in the judicial custody, have cheated more than eight persons of around Rs 15.5 lakh, the officer added.

They posed as agents and also opened accounts at two nationalised banks where the victims, in the hope of getting a Mhada flat, deposited the money.

“We have learnt that one of the journalists involved gave surety for the two in order to help them open an bank account,” said the officer.

Surendra Paithankar, senior police inspector of Goregaon police station said, “Names of a few journalists have been revealed by the two. However, further enquiries are on and we are in the process of collecting evidence.”