Fake doctors arrested for duping people

Mumbai: The Sion police on Friday arrested a duo that duped people by posing as a doctor and policeman in need of monetary help.

The arrested accused, identified as Salim Naviwala (50) and Navinchandra Pandya (65), tried to con a businessman, Vallabhbhai Sudhani (62), of nearly Rs 1 lakh. The police said that Mr Naviwala and Mr Pandya contacted the elderly businessman, telling him that one of their sons had been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai and needed immediate medical attention.

Sensing that something was amiss, Mr Sudhani approached the Sion police and lodged a complaint against the callers. The duo had sought to meet him at Sion Hospital where the police laid a trap and waited for them to arrive. They were apprehended soon after and five mobile phones and eight SIM cards were found from their residence upon searching.

An officer of Sion police station said, “They sought monetary help, stating that they were in Gujarat and could not do anything. They had sought money to the tune of Rs 47,500 and Rs 92,000 on two occasions. We seized several items from their residence.”

The duo has at least three similar cases of cheating against them, where they used names of big hospitals and sought money for getting treatment there. A fresh case of cheating and acts of common intention has been filed under sections of the IPC and further probe is underway.