Conman named in 5 dozen cases in police net again
JODHPUR’S ‘NATWARLAL’ Suresh Ghanchi has been caught 35 times for cheating people
JAIPUR: When the Udaipur city police arrested a 35-year-old fraudster on Friday evening, they had no idea that they had stumbled upon a notorious conman Suresh Ghanchi, who has been arrested three-dozen times for cheating people and have more than five dozen cases registered against his name across 16 districts in Rajasthan.
The investigations following the fraudster’s arrest revealed that he is the man known as ‘Natwarlal’ across various police stations of Jodhpur range, said Gopal Swaroop Mewara, additional superintendent of police, Udaipur city.
Ghanchi was arrested after a cheating complaint was filed against him on January 9 this year.
“The complainant, Nana Lal stated that one person, who identified himself as Suresh, pretended as station house officer of Pratap Nagar police station and when the complainant verified the fact he came to know that somebody was trying to cheat him,” Mewara said.
The police officer said that
Ghanchi had been in jails and police lock-ups for 35 times. He would impersonate as a police officer, magistrate, legislator and social worker to dupe people.
“He is so sharp that while being in jail he learnt the tone and pitch of many cops and through television he used to carefully listen to and imitate the voices of other people like politicians and social workers,” Mewara added.
In Jodhpur, Pali, Marwar junction and Jaipur, Ghanchi has allegedly duped many people impersonating as an MLA. In August last year, he went to a jewellery shop, purchased jewel
SANJAY SHARMA, SHO
lery and told the owner that he is a former MLA of Pali assembly constituency, gave him a fake cheque. A few days later, the owner realised that the cheque was fake and registered an FIR, the police said, adding that he has duped many other businessmen including a car dealer.
When Ghanchi’s background was checked, police found that he has duped another businessman of Rs 6 lakh in Mount Abu impersonating as a magistrate. In Jodhpur range, he has duped people pretending as inspector general of police, Pali superintendent of police and Jalore’s additional SP.
“In 16 districts, he has duped
In 16 districts, he has duped 20 people worth rupees lakhs impersonating as DSP and SHO offering them quick investigation, change in sections of cases and verification
20 people worth rupees lakhs impersonating as DSP and SHO offering them quick investigation, change in sections of cases and verification. In many districts, he has duped people by changing his voice over phone. He is a dubbing expert. Seeing a rise in number of cases of cheating and fraud registered against him, he was legally bounded by the Kotwali police of Pali district,” said Sanjay Sharma, station house officer, Bhoopalpura police station.
The first case against Ghanchi was registered in 2006 when he was booked under the Gambling Act. According to police officials, he is a gambling addict. In order to pay the losses he suffered in gambling, he would either dupe a person or steal valuables.
In January last year, when Ghanchi was lodged in the Ajmer jail, he duped four persons of nearly Rs 35 lakh by impersonating as a circle inspector of Pindwara police station. He urged the victims to help for the treatment of an IG rank police officer’s ailing son and also promised to r e t urn t he money. He was exposed when Pindwara police arrested two persons who took the money on his behalf.