Man held for duping 2 says he cheated more students

MUMBAI : The arrest of a 28-yearold former engineering student by the Juhu police has opened a series of cases in which students and businessmen from different parts of the country were allegedly cheated. Police said Ferin Patel, who was arrested on Friday, has revealed he has cheated students from Mumbai and Pune, a businessman from Ahmedabad and a number of people from Delhi on the pretext of getting them admissions and jobs.

“Apart from Pune, he cheated students from Kandivli and Andheri on the pretext of getting them admission. Students were told that they can get admission in several top colleges across the city. After taking money from them he used to vanish, at times he even changed his sim cards,” said an officer.

Apart from students, Patel allegedly cheated a businessman from Ahmedabad after taking money from him for starting a business of rental bikes.

The accused also mentioned during the interrogation of cheating around four to five people from Delhi after taking money from them to get them jobs. One man from Vakola was also cheated for a job.

“He joined the engineering college in the year 2013 but did not complete his course. He has always been fascinated with high-end bikes,” police sources said. Patel was arrested by Juhu police for allegedly cheating two youngsters from Pune on the pretext of getting them admission in one of the top colleges for management studies.

“He met the victims outside the management college and asked for ₹8 lakh each, saying he had contacts there. After taking the total amount of ₹16 lakh, he pretended to go inside the college but never returned,” said a police officer.

After the accused did not return, the victims then registered a case with the Juhu police. Police said that the accused was about to leave for Kolkata when they arrested him from Mira Road. Police have recovered more than ₹13 lakh from Patel. He had spent around ₹2 lakh on buying jackets, accessories for his motorcycle and so on.