The Manikpur police have launched a search for a 32-year-old woman who allegedly duped a Vasai-based motorbike dealer of Rs 5.25 lakh by altering a cheque worth Rs 500, which he had given her, in such a manner that it allowed her to withdraw the extra amount.

According to the police, the accused woman, Preeti Vanjara, had booked a motorbike from a Vasai-based shop against an initial payment of Rs 1,000 on Sept. 1. Later, she contacted the dealer and told him that she cannot purchase the vehicle due to a sudden cash crunch, and asked for a refund. The dealer deducted Rs 500 and gave her a cheque of Rs 500, which she manipulated, changing the figure of Rs 500 into Rs 5.25 lakh and later withdrawing that money.

The Manikpur police said Vanjara had a similar cheating complaint registered against her at Vasai police station. According to the Vasai police, they were probing her for allegedly manipulating a cheque of Rs 900 to withdraw Rs 9 lakh.

The showroom owner in his police complaint, said the woman came back in the third week of September. During this second visit, Vanjara told the owner that she would have to cancel her booking because of the sudden cash crunch she was facing. She asked for her money back, but the owner told the woman that she needs to pay Rs 500 as cancellation fees, and wrote her a cheque of Rs 500.