Firm promoter convicted for cheating widow

The Sixth District Sessions Court on Tuesday convicted S Manoj Kumar of Ram Associates for duping a widow to the tune of Rs 60 lakh. The court will pronounce the sentence on Wednesday.

The victim was working for a private firm specialising in visas to Israel. She had contacted Manoj Kumar of Ram Associates to buy a 9-cents land near Mulki.

After signing an agreement for buying the land and the house at a total cost of Rs 60 lakh, the woman had transferred the entire amount from different bank accounts to Kumar’s account.

In the meantime, Kumar had begun wooing her on the pretext of marrying her. Kumar, apart from handing a receipt for Rs 26 lakh, had not given any agreement declaring her as the owner of the house and land. She later discovered that the same property was pledged in a bank for
Rs 25 lakh. He also refused to marry her as promised. Thus, the woman filed a complaint with Mulki police station accusing Manoj of raping her on December 12, 2014.

He was arrested by the police under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and later released on bail on the following day. The then Mulki inspector Ramachandra Nayak had filed a charge sheet. Public Prosecutor Judith O M Crasta appeared on behalf of the victim.

“Seventy-five documents, including all bank transactions, were produced in the court and 25 witnesses were examined. The court acquitted the accused on rape charges for lack of evidence but convicted him for cheating and criminal intimidation and we have appealed for maximum punishment,” she said.

Unfortunately, the land is being auctioned as Kumar has failed to repay the loan. The woman and her elderly parents are living in the house at present, Crasta said.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on Wednesday.