Mumbai Crime: 63-Year-Old Businesswoman Defrauded Of ₹28.5 Lakh In Gold By Chembur NGO Duo; FIR Registered

Mumbai: A 63-year-old businesswoman from Nehru Nagar has alleged that she was defrauded of gold ornaments worth ₹28.5 lakh by two men associated with a Chembur-based NGO.

The Tilak Nagar Police have registered a case against Hafiz Sayed, proprietor of Janhit Foundation, and Tushar Gaikwad, the organization's secretary, for cheating, and misappropriation of property.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Azeeza Abdullah Sharif, who runs a garment business, was lured into a fraudulent scheme under the guise of receiving an interest-free loan.

In 2018, her daughter, Afrin,35, a teacher in Dubai, came across an advertisement of Janhit Foundation, which claimed to help the poor. Afrin contacted Hafiz Sayed through his Facebook contact and later donated money to the NGO.

Over time, a close acquaintance developed between the Sharif family and Sayed. In 2020, while arranging finances to purchase a new flat, they needed to pay ₹10 lakh as an initial amount to the builder. Hafiz then introduced Tushar Gaikwad, claiming that he could arrange funds against pledged gold — offering ₹20,000 for every 10 grams of gold ornaments.

On June 8, 2020, Azeeza’s daughters Afrin and Asia visited the Janhit Tours and Travels office at P.L. Lokhande Marg, Chembur (West), and handed over gold ornaments weighing 440.5 grams. An agreement was signed between Afrin and Gaikwad, and Hafiz transferred ₹7 lakh to Azeeza’s ICICI Bank account. Hafiz kept the original copy of the agreement, giving only a photocopy to Afrin.

Between July 6, 2021 and May 13, 2023, Azeeza transferred ₹6.8 lakh to the Yes Bank account of Janhit International and Travels. When she later demanded her gold back, only 60.5 grams were returned on October 26, 2023. At that time, Azeeza also gave an additional ₹35,000 to Hafiz, who promised to return the remaining 380 grams within a month—a promise that went unfulfilled.

Hafiz later issued two cheques, amounting to ₹10 lakh and ₹18.5 lakh respectively, from Kotak Mahindra Bank. However, both cheques bounced when deposited on April 23, 2025.

Following this, Azeeza lodged a complaint with the Tilak Nagar Police, who registered a case against Hafiz Sayed and Tushar Gaikwad under Sections 406, 420, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).