Mumbai: A 55-year-old businessman from Bhendi Bazaar and his son-in-law were allegedly cheated of Rs 5 crore by a man posing as a civic contractor for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The JJ Marg police have registered a case against the accused, identified as Mohammed Gulam Roshan and launched an investigation into the fraud.

According to the police, the complainant, Anis Nizam Khan, owns a company that supplies JCBs, excavators and even rents out ships. Khan came in contact with Roshan through his son-in-law, as both men were neighbours in Dongri. In 2022, Roshan told Khan that he had bagged a three-year BMC contract to clean seven civic hospitals. However, he claimed that he needed to deposit Rs 5 crore as a ‘bank guarantee’ before the project could begin.

Roshan convinced Khan to lend him the amount, promising to repay the full Rs 5 crore within three years and, in addition, offer a monthly commission of Rs 18 lakh. The lucrative return, totalling Rs 4.32 crore in profits, led Khan to agree to the deal. While Khan invested Rs 1 crore himself, his son-in-law contributed the remaining Rs 4 crore.

To formalise the arrangement, both parties signed an agreement, under which Roshan pledged not to sell, lease or gift his flat on Jerabai Wadia Road until the amount was repaid. As security, Roshan also submitted documents for another flat in Mazgaon, registered in his wife’s name.

However, the situation changed a month later. Roshan allegedly told Khan that he was facing domestic disputes and requested the return of his property papers, promising to sell his two flats and settle the dues. Given the close ties between their families, Khan agreed to return the documents, a decision that ultimately cost him heavily.

In January 2023, Roshan failed to pay the promised Rs 18 lakh monthly commission. Soon after, Khan fell ill and his son-in-law was arrested in an unrelated case in March 2024. By the time the family reconnected in March 2025, they discovered that Roshan had sold both properties and separated from his wife, without returning a single rupee.

Realising they had been duped, Khan filed a police complaint on Friday. The JJ Marg police have booked Roshan under Sections 418, 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and criminal breach of trust, according to the report. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest the accused.

A 33-year-old Indian woman living in the United States was duped of USD 94,000 (around Rs84 lakh) by cybercriminals posing as police officers. The scammers, believed to be operating from India, kept her under “digital arrest” and coerced her into transferring money through cryptocurrency.

The victim, a software developer from Borivali (West), currently working in New Jersey, received a call last week claiming that a gun had been purchased using her credit card. She initially ignored it as a scam, but the next day, she received another call from an Indian number. The caller, introducing himself as an officer from the Delhi Cyber Crime Department, accused her of involvement in a Rs25.8 lakh money-laundering case linked to businessman Naresh Goyal and threatened arrest.

The fraudster made a video call showing what appeared to be a police station background. He convinced the woman to remain under constant video surveillance, calling it a “digital arrest.” He then instructed her to buy a new phone and SIM card, share her bank details, and open a Bitcoin account, assuring her the money would be returned once the case was “resolved.”

Over a few days, she transferred USD 94,000 in four cryptocurrency transactions to what she was told was a “special account.” She later realised she had been scammed.

When she approached the cyber police in New Jersey, they refused to register a case, citing that the funds were transferred to Indian accounts.

The Nirmal Nagar police have booked four individuals, including three women, for allegedly assaulting police constable Sameer Bhingardive and threatening to file a false case against him. Bhingardive, 40, is assigned to the Cyber Crime Cell and is responsible for tracing cybercrime suspects and recovering stolen or missing mobile phones. He resides at the Worli Police Camp.

According to the FIR, the incident occurred on October 25 at around 6.30 pm. Bhingardive had traced a missing mobile phone and contacted its owner, autorickshaw driver Virendrakumar Saroj, instructing him to submit it at the police station.

While waiting at a tea stall on the Western Express Highway service road, Bhingardive intervened in an argument between Saroj and a woman over parking. Despite identifying himself as a policeman, Bhingardive was assaulted when two women and a man arrived at the spot. The assailants struck him on the face, head, and neck, with the man reportedly using his bracelet.

During the altercation, one woman broke Saroj’s driver’s licence, and another threatened to file a false case against the constable, demanding a public apology. The commotion drew a crowd, prompting immediate police action.

Constables Swapnil Tambe and Datish Tige arrived at the scene, rescued Bhingardive, and took the four accused to Nirmal Nagar police station. Bhingardive later received treatment at VN Desai Hospital, Santacruz (East).

The accused are identified as Kavita Patil, 38; Pooja Gaikwad, 32; Geeta Gorvale, 32; and Kalpesh Gaikwad, around 35, all residents of Khar East.

The police have registered a case under Sections 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), and 3(5) (general explanation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).