32YEAROLD TAKES CAR FOR TEST DRIVE, FLEES, HELD

MUMBAI : A 32-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for cheating a car seller he met online after he allegedly stole a car on the pretext of taking it for a test drive.

This is the 12th such case since 2011, and sixth this year, registered against the arrested accused, said a police officer from the Vile Parle station.

The accused, Vishal Chalke, and the complainant, Amol Gotavale, 29, met through an online marketplace, where Gotavale had put an advertisement for the sale of a Tata Manza.

When the two met, Chalke agreed to purchase the car and handed Gotavale a cheque of ₹1.9 lakh.

Chalke then said he was taking the car for a test drive. However, he never returned. When the cheque bounced, Gotavale realised that he had been duped. On August 7, Gotavale approached the Vile Parle police and filed a complaint. A first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.

A team, led by sub inspectors Pravin Ghadge and Sambhaji Thorat, traced and arrested Chalke from Raigad.

“He has 12 similar cheating cases against him since 2011 and six of them are from this year. He uses the same modus operandi each time. He sells the car. We are now trying to recover the car from him,” said an officer.

The online marketplace, on its website, has stated that it “shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or interactions.”

THIS IS THE 12TH SUCH CASE SINCE 2011, AND SIXTH THIS YEAR, FILED AGAINST THE ARRESTED ACCUSED, SAID A POLICE OFFICER FROM THE VILE PARLE STATION