Few doubted the identity of a businessman, who was apparently well-dressed, fluent in English and sophisticated. The Delhi Police Crime Branch is looking for a south Delhi-based businessman for allegedly duping several people on the pretext of selling them high-end cars without an No Objection Certificate (NOC). The fraudster also claimed that he received the title of ‘Lord’ by the British government.
One of the officers of the Anti-Extortion Unit (AEC) of Crime Branch, involved in the investigations, said ‘Lord’ Mukul Paul Taneja runs his swanky office in Mayfair Gardens in Hauz Khas area and lured people after giving advertisement in daily newspaper with attractive offers and discounts for those interested in buying only high-end cars.
Taneja had taken loans from several banks including some public sector banks. A woman named Nisha Karavadra from the UK, who was in India last year, came across Taneja.
According to the AEC official: “A few days back, a complaint was received from Nisha Karavadra. When Nisha was in Delhi, she came across an advertisement in a newspaper which was placed by Taneja. Later, she approached him to buy a Renault Duster car. Taneja had told Nisha that he has political connection. After several meetings and conversations, she paid him around Rs.11 lakh.”
The victim, in her complaint, told the police that after paying the whole amount and despite repeated reminders for possession of the NOC, the accused started avoiding her and stopped picking her phone calls.
“She waited for around eight months and later realised that he had cheated her. Later, Nisha lodged a complaint through local MP Stephen Barclay in the UK, who in turn informed the British High Commission in New Delhi. Subsequently, the Delhi Police, with her complaint and on the basis of the victim’s statement, registered a case under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code at Crime Branch police station,” the police official said.
The police found during investigation that Taneja had many outstanding loans against all the highend cars he sold and was thus unable to to get an NOC.
He used to first take a loan and buy a car and then sell the same car off to a third party and take full payment in return. After receiving the payment, he would then disappear without giving the buyer an NOC.
“Two days ago, AEC sleuths approached the accused after posing as a decoy customer over phone and the accused first ensured him that he would transfer the car in his name and get him an NOC once the full payment is done,” the officer added.
