Surgeon duped of Rs 13.50 lakh on pretext of son's admission in Thane

A civil surgeon from Palghar district was allegedly duped by three persons including a doctor to the tune of Rs 13.50 lakh.

Thane, Nov 22: A civil surgeon from Palghar district was allegedly duped by three persons including a doctor to the tune of Rs 13.50 lakh, after they promised to secure admission of his son in a medical college at Chiplun, police said today.

Rajendra S Kelkar has alleged in the complaint that he was cheated by one of his friends doctor Avinash Lokhande from Sangli, one Mahesh Adate from Navi Mumbai (admission agent) and driver Sachin Surve.

Police said an offence under IPC sections 420, 406, 507 and 34 has been registered against the trio with the Kasarwadavali police station here and further probe is on.

However, no arrests have been made so far in this connection, they said. Kelkar said that he wanted to get his son enrolled in MBBS with the college at Chiplun for which Lokhande offered assistance.

Lokhande directed the victim to Adate (agent), who allegedly made a demand of Rs 18 lakh for the admission. The deal was later finalised for Rs 17 lakh. Accordingly, Kelkar made the full payment on different occasions in various tranches and sometimes through Surve (Adate's driver).

The payment was made between July 2 and 12, 2015. Later when he enquired about the admission in October 2015, he was informed that the admission was not possible as it was too late and the money paid by him would be refunded, police said.

Adate, on being continuously pursued refunded a sum of Rs 3.50 lakh till October 2016. When the balance amount was sought, he asked the Kelkar to get the rest of his refund (Rs 13.50 lakh) from Lokhande following which he filed a complaint against the trio recently.

PTI