The Sion police have arrested Mukesh Taleja, a man from Rohtak, Haryana, for allegedly impersonating a doctor and cheating a Mumbai-based medical distributor of medicines worth over Rs 6.3 lakh.
Taleja, who previously worked as a medical representative, is suspected to have defrauded several distributors with a similar method. Between April 30 and May 2, he contacted the complainant posing as Dr. Dipanshu Verma from V.N. Desai Hospital, Santacruz. Claiming urgent need for supplies, he procured medicines worth Rs 5.66 lakh and later issued a cheque that bounced without making payment.
Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Information Technology Act for impersonation and cheating. Investigations revealed Taleja used SIM cards and bank accounts registered in others’ names. He traveled from Rohtak to Mumbai, stayed briefly to commit the fraud, and returned.
Technical analysis traced him to Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, where he was arrested alongside an accomplice believed to act as a middleman. The police seized five mobile phones, blank cheques from thirteen banks, one debit card, and medicines worth Rs 6.31 lakh, suspected to be linked to similar scams.
Authorities believe Taleja defrauded multiple distributors across regions and are working to identify more victims and collaborators. The investigation was led by DCP Ragasudha R., ACP Shailendra Dhiwar, and a specialized cybercrime team.
