Dahisar police have arrested Tejas Shah, the 32-year-old owner of Purva Holidays, for allegedly defrauding clients with fake international tour packages. Shah, who has been charged in multiple cases of cheating, was recently apprehended after a complaint was filed by 61-year-old Mahendra Panchal, a businessman from Goregaon West, who claimed to have been duped of Rs 5.5 lakh for a New Zealand tour.
Shah, who operates Purva Holidays in Dahisar East, initially lured clients with attractive foreign tour deals. However, after collecting large sums of money, he canceled the tours at the last moment without any refund. The police say Shah used excuses to justify the cancellations, never returning the money to the clients.
The latest incident involves Mahendra Panchal, who was looking forward to a foreign vacation. In June 2023, Panchal came across an advertisement for Purva Holidays and contacted Shah about a New Zealand tour. Shah promised him a discount on future tours if he paid upfront, which Panchal did, handing over Rs5.5 lakh for accommodation and meals for two people.
Despite confirming the tour details in person with Shah just days before departure, Panchal was informed that the trip had been canceled just two days before the scheduled date, with no explanation. Shah issued a cheque for the full amount, but it bounced when presented, and all attempts to contact him failed.
Upon further investigation, Panchal discovered that Shah had been involved in several similar frauds, deceiving other clients with fake tour packages. Dahisar police, who had previously arrested Shah, once again took him into custody after Malabar Hill police. He has since been remanded to judicial custody while further investigations continue.