Mumbai: Even after five years of covid era the news of covid still haunts. A Hong Kong based French company has accused a Mumbai based company for inducing them to invest in disposable face masks, hand sanitisers and covid testing kits and cheating them to the tune of Rs7 crores. The company has lodged an FIR against the two accused with the Samta Nagar police and the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police has taken over the probe.An official from EOW confirmed that they are probing an alleged international fraud case in which a French company representative has accused two Mumbai-based individuals of cheating him of USD 8,24,585 (over ₹6.8 crore at current rates).The complaint has been filed by Dr. John Marie Andre , authorised representative of CDI Hong Kong Company and CEO of MSIC Saarlou Company, currently residing in Lokhandwala Township, Kandivali (East), Mumbai. Andre has alleged that Ajit Ashok Mane (51) and his wife Anuja Ajit Mane (51), sole proprietor of M/s Wonder Products — allegedly induced his company to invest in a purported government supply business between 2020 and 2022. The accused reportedly claimed to have received large government orders for disposable masks, hand sanitisers and test kits during the Covid-19 period.The complainant has alleged that the accused prepared and shared forged Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) purportedly executed with non-existent companies to gain his confidence. Relying on these representations, the complainant transferred USD 10,11,930 to the accused over the said period, of which only USD 1,87,345 has allegedly been returned. The remaining USD 8,24,585 is yet to be repaid.The matter has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing for detailed investigation into alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery. Further probe is underway to examine financial transactions, verify documents and fix culpability.
