Palghar, Maharashtra: The Tulinj Police have registered a case of cheating against a 40-year-old man for allegedly defrauding a medical shop aspirant of ₹35 lakh under the pretext of renting a space near a prominent multi-specialty hospital in Nalasopara (East).

The accused promised a medical shop near prominent hospital

According to the complaint filed by Pradeep Kaluram Chaudhary, 21, a medical shop operator, the accused, identified as Ranjit Kantaprasad Yadav, a resident of Haridwar Housing Society, Mahesh Park, Tulinj Road, took ₹40 lakh as a heavy security deposit from him in June 2022, promising to provide a shop space near the hospital.

According to the complaint filed by Pradeep Kaluram Chaudhary, a medical shop operator, the accused took ₹40 lakh as a heavy security deposit from him in June 2022, promising to provide a shop space near the hospital.

However, more than two years later, the promised medical shop has not been made operational, and the accused has returned only ₹5 lakh of the total deposit. The remaining ₹35 lakh remains unpaid despite repeated follow-ups, the complaint states.

The accused fails to fulfill the agreement

The alleged fraud took place near a well-known multi-specialty hospital in Nalasopara (East), where the complainant had hoped to set up the business. When the accused failed to fulfill the agreement and did not return the remaining amount, the victim approached the police.

Based on the findings of a preliminary inquiry, Tulinj Police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on August 5, 2025, at 2:01 pm.

Probe Underway

Senior officers including Police Inspector Vijay Jadhav and Assistant Police Inspectors Manesh Sable and Govind Baste are overseeing the investigation.

The police have launched a probe to trace the remaining funds and verify if other victims may be involved.

Navi Mumbai: A major case of identity theft has surfaced in Navi Mumbai, where a fake PAN card was created using the details of a resident, leading to a financial transaction worth Rs 29 lakh. Upon discovering the fraud, the concerned authorities registered a case against an unidentified individual.

The victim, Parul Bhatia, a resident of Sanpada, became aware of the fraud while filing her income tax return for the previous financial year. During the routine document submission to her chartered accountant, she noticed suspicious activity linked to her PAN card. It was revealed that a company had been registered using her PAN, and a GST number was also obtained under her name.

Bhatia clarified that she had no involvement with the company or the transactions and questioned how her PAN card details were cloned and misused. She immediately filed a written complaint at the Sanpada Police Station.

According to the report, following her complaint, police investigations revealed that the fake PAN card had been used for financial operations since April 2024. A firm named “Bhatia Enterprises” was fraudulently established under her identity, through which transactions amounting to crores were conducted. Authorities further found that the operations were carried out in Uttar Pradesh.

After verifying the details in Bhatia’s complaint, the police filed a case on Tuesday, charging the accused with defrauding both the individual and the government using a forged PAN card. Police Sub-Inspector Suraj Raut is currently leading the investigation, as reported.

Elderly Powai Businessman Duped Of ₹52 Lakh In Online Honeytrap Scam

In a seperte news story related to the cyber fraud, a 65-year-old businessman from Powai was duped of Rs 52 lakh in a sophisticated cyber fraud involving a woman he met on Facebook. The case is currently being investigated by the West Region Cyber Police and has been identified as a classic honeytrap scam, where cybercriminals exploit emotional manipulation and false investment promises to deceive victims.

In January 2020, just before the Covid-19 outbreak, Mumbai Central resident Anil Nagre wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging immediate attention to the state of civic and state-run hospitals in the city. He specifically highlighted the deteriorating condition of B Y L Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central, citing a chronic shortage of beds, ICU facilities and essential medicines.

The PM’s Office had reportedly directed the state government to look into the matter. However, five years on, Nagre says little has changed. Recounting a recent ordeal involving his father’s hospitalisation, he called the experience disheartening. “We saw how the healthcare system nearly collapsed during Covid,” he said. “But it seems like the authorities have learned little from the crisis.”

MRI Machine Defunct Since 2023

A recent visit to Nair Hospital revealed that its lone MRI machine, installed in 2009, has been non-functional since late 2023. The machine was declared end-of-life in early 2023 after repeated helium refills failed to keep it running.

Patients in need of urgent MRIs are now being sent to Sion Hospital or to private diagnostic centres under BMC-approved rates. One relative of a trauma patient said they had no choice but to opt for a private centre nearby due to the patient’s critical condition. The lack of an in-house MRI facility has caused treatment delays and added financial burdens for many.

Although a new 3T MRI machine has been sanctioned in the BMC budget, its installation has been delayed due to procurement hurdles. The delay is also affecting clinical training for radiology students.

Overburdened and Under-Resourced

Nair Hospital is one of Mumbai’s largest civic-run tertiary care hospitals, with approximately 1,652 beds. It caters to patients from across Mumbai, including suburbs like Thane, Palghar and Bhiwandi, and even from rural Maharashtra. Around 30% of its patients come from outside the city for affordable treatment.

Despite its importance, the hospital continues to struggle with outdated infrastructure and frequent equipment failures. With high patient inflow, several wards, including general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and obstetrics, routinely exceed their capacity. It’s not uncommon for two or more patients to be accommodated on stretchers or even on the floor.

Basic Amenities Still a Challenge

Patients’ relatives raised concerns about lack of basic amenities. “Water is only available on the ground and seventh floors. If your patient is admitted elsewhere, you have to keep climbing up and down,” said caregiver Wasim Ansari.

He also mentioned that fans inside some lifts don’t work. “Lighting is another issue,” added Sumit Patil, who was attending to a relative. “Some parts of the building are dimly lit or completely dark at night. It feels unsafe.”

Hospital Response

Hospital dean Dr Shailesh Mohite stated that instances of patients sharing beds or being accommodated on the floor are not frequent. “This happens only when there is a sudden rush,” he said. A treating doctor added, “We can’t send patients back. If needed, we accommodate them somehow.”

Regarding the MRI issue, Dr Mohite said the BMC’s central purchase department is responsible for procurement. “We have already raised the demand,” he said.