2 imported car dealers held

Mumbai, Apr 25 (UNI) The police here today arrested two people dealing in imported cars on charges of forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

The two had sold imported cars to Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen and others.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramrao Pawar told mediapersons here that Haren Choksy (51) and Srinivas Bala Shetty Nama alias Vasu Panderi Thamalla (41) were arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Passport Act. Mr Pawar said Choksy had beeen importing cars from the Gulf and other countries for the last several years and selling those to Bollywood and other high-profile personalities in the city.

Incidentally, while hearing a petition filed by Sushmita Sen challenging the heavy Octroi duty imposed by the Municipal Corporation on her Land-cruiser car, the Bombay High Court last month had issued a warrant against Thamalla with the directive that he be produced before the court on April 23.

A special police team had visited Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh in search of Thamalla. From his relatives, it was learnt that Thamalla was residing in a Worli slum area in Mumbai.

Thamalla had stayed in the Middle-East for about 18 years where he worked as a tailor. Police had seized three passports from his possession.

UNI ST MAZ SW KP1946