In a disturbing incident, three individuals were arrested in Palghar district for allegedly cheating a 67-year-old man out of Rs50,000. The victim, who was withdrawing money at an ATM on Mahim Road, was approached by the suspects, who pretended to offer assistance.
The accused—Kismat Barkatali Shaikh (27), Hasmat Barkatali Shaikh (32), and Haresh Rahul Pradhan (21)—managed to distract the elderly man long enough to swap his ATM card with a duplicate. Once they had his card, they withdrew Rs50,000 from his account.
The victim only realized he had been cheated when he checked his bank balance, after which he reported the incident to the police. Authorities are currently searching for a fourth suspect, Dipak Jha, from Ulhasnagar, who is believed to be involved in the scam.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects, who were arrested along with ₹30,000 in cash, are part of a gang that has been targeting elderly people at ATM kiosks across Palghar, Kanhan, Nagpur, and Mumbra. Authorities also seized a car worth Rs5 lakh from the suspects, which they had used to carry out their fraudulent activities.
The arrested individuals face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and breach of trust. Investigations are ongoing, with police focusing on uncovering the full extent of the gang’s activities.
