Dayanand Kamath

Munira Adtia, 34, was not only shocked to find that the Rs7.24 lakh in her husband’s account in the Nariman Point branch of a bank had been transferred to another bank, she was also puzzled.

The account was operated only by her husband, Yousuf Ali Aziz Adtia, 65, who had passed away in April 2004, but the amount was transferred almost two years later, between February and April 2006. According to the Gamdevi police, her neighbour Mohammad Damani, 55, had swindled the money using fake documents.

The fraud came to light in December 2007, when Munira went to the Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Nariman Point branch after learning that her husband had an account in the branch. At the bank, she was told that the money in the account had been transferred to a Union Bank of India branch between February and April 2006.

Munira suspected foul play, and she approached the crime branch headquarters in Crawford Market to lodge a complaint.

“Crime branch officials instructed me to lodge a complaint with the Gamdevi police as the bank is situated in the area under their jurisdiction.”

Munira then met senior inspector Narayan Dumbre of Gamdevi police station and lodged the complaint.

“Investigations revealed that Damani, who owns a shop in Mahalaxmi that sells mobiles and other electrical items, swindled the amount after promising to help Munira liquidate her late husband’s business,” said subinspector Ashok Bhujbal of the police station.

Bhujbal said Yousuf had a book stall named ‘Excelsior Book Stall’ at Fort. He died on April 12, 2004 due to illness. After his death, Munira decided to sell the shop, since there was no male member in the family - Munira has a 14-year-old daughter -to look after the shop.

She approached Damani in January 2005 to seek his help in selling the shop. She gave him the shop’s keys, so that he could show it to prospective buyers. On his first visit to the shop, Damani found Yousuf ’s bank statements, showing a balance of Rs7.24 lakh. He then hatched the plan to swindle the money.

Damani allegedly made his employee Mohammad Gilani, 62, open a bank account on February 15, 2006 in the name of Yousuf in the Mahalaxmi branch of Union Bank of India. Damani procured a fake Pan card showing Gilani as Adtia.

For residence proof, he gave a letter with his shop’s letterhead stating Gilani stayed with him.

After the account was created, Damani withdrew the Rs7.24 lakh between February 2006 and April 2006 through cheques by forging Yousuf’s signature, Bhujbal said.

Damani was arrested on May 13 under sections 419, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

He was remanded in police custody till May 26. He is now in judicial custody.

Source : DNA