Pune – In a shocking case of investment fraud, two women from the Lashkar area have been accused of deceiving six people by promising them commercial or residential units in an under-construction building. The accused lured investors with the promise of lucrative returns from the construction business but allegedly swindled them out of ₹65.5 lakh. The victims were promised ownership of these units upon completion of the project.

The complainant, 68-year-old Mehboob Abdulghani Shaikh, a resident of Camp, Pune, lodged an FIR at the Lashkar police station. According to the complaint, the accused, identified as Farhana Sadiq Qureshi and Hina Sadiq Qureshi, both residents of Bhimpura, Camp, convinced the victims to invest large sums in their construction business between April 2019 and February 2021.

How the Fraud Unfolded

According to police sources, the accused allegedly worked in collusion to convince the complainant and five of his relatives to invest in their construction project. They assured the victims that their investments would secure them permanent ownership of either commercial or residential spaces in the upcoming building. Over time, the victims invested a total of ₹65.5 lakh into the fraudulent scheme.

However, once the money was transferred, the accused failed to deliver the promised units. When the victims demanded their money back, they were issued cheques from various banks. Unfortunately, the cheques bounced due to insufficient funds in the accounts. When the victims tried to confront the accused for their money, it was revealed that Farhana Qureshi had relocated, leaving the investors in the lurch.

The Lashkar Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the investigation is currently being led by Police Sub-Inspector Gujar. Authorities are actively pursuing the case and gathering more evidence against the accused.