Pune: The Hinjewadi police have registered a cheating case against three men on Monday for allegedly duping a 40-year-old farmer from Maan of Rs66 lakh on the pretext of starting a real estate business. The accused collected the money in cash and through bank transfers and also secured a loan against the victim’s land. When the farmer realised he had been cheated and began demanding his money back, the accused allegedly threatened him with dire consequences, police said.The police registered the case under sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.An officer from the Hinjewadi police said that, according to the complainant, the trio approached him in 2021 and promised him good opportunities in import-export and real estate business. They assured him they would provide all help and started taking money from him. “The trio took money from the farmer in cash, by cheque and bank transfer. They also made him obtain a loan by mortgaging his piece of land,” the officer said. He said that between 2021 and 2022, the farmer gave them Rs 66 lakh. To date, the trio did not start either of the two businesses, nor did they return his money. “The farmer was following them for his money. Every time they used to avoid him by citing some reason,” he said. The officer said that recently, the trio threatened the farmer and refused to return his money, following which he approached the police on Monday and lodged a complaint. “Our investigations are on,” the officer said. 
