Mumbai News: 3 Held In ₹6 Lakh Fake US Dollar Soap Scam After 11 Months On The Run

The Samtanagar police arrested three persons on May 3 for defrauding an electrician of Rs6 lakh under the pretence of offering US dollars at a discounted rate. The accused, identified as Shahid Medbul Haque Sheikh, 45, Nuralam Aynul Sheikh, 38, and Shahjan Irshad Sheikh, 44, had fled after the case was registered but were arrested nearly 11 months later.

They were produced before the Borivali court, which remanded them to police custody until May 6.

According to the police, the victim, Bhavesh Barot, a resident of Virar who owns an electrical shop, became friends with Abdul, one of the accused, after he started selling mangoes outside his shop in 2020. In May 2024, Abdul offered Barot a deal to buy US dollars at a low exchange rate, showing him a few genuine dollars to build trust.

On June 6, 2024, Barot went to Kandivali East with Rs6 lakh, but after handing the money to two youths, he found that the bundle contained soap bars instead of currency. Realising he had been cheated, Barot filed a complaint. The police arrested the accused after nearly a year and are investigating whether they have been involved in similar frauds.