Taloja: A gang of eight allegedly duped a Taloja-resident of Rs 50 lakh. The incident took place near Somaiya College in Vidyavihar, Mumbai. Taloja Police have registered a case of fraud and launched a manhunt for the accused.

The complainant, Ashraf Khan, a resident of Taloja Phase-1, was lured into the financial fraud with the promise of earning Rs 70 lakh in return for an investment of Rs 50 lakh. Tempted by the offer, Ashraf arranged the cash from his brother.

The accused Rehan, Manoj, Imaan, Prashant, and Ujwal Shah contacted Ashraf multiple times over phone to gain his trust. They called him to Somaiya College in Vidyavihar on June 14 to complete the transaction. Ashraf went to the location with the cash-filled bag, accompanied by his friends Danny and Akash.

At the location, the accused arrived in a white WagonR car, posing as police officers. They took the bag containing Rs 50 lakh and fled the scene. Realizing he had been duped, Ashraf initially lodged a complaint at Tilak Nagar Police Station in Mumbai. Based on his complaint, the police booked Ujwal Shah, Danny, Gopal, Rehan, Manoj, Imaan, Prashant, and one unidentified individual. The case has since been transferred to Taloja Police for further investigation, and efforts are underway to trace the accused gang members.