Goa Economic Offences Cell Files FIR in Major Women Empowerment Fraud Case
The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) of the Goa police has taken decisive action by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against a husband and wife from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, along with associates connected to the Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra. This legal move comes in response to serious allegations of cheating approximately 23 women in Goa out of a staggering sum exceeding Rs 1.5 crore.
Deceptive Promises and False Guarantees
According to the official complaint, the accused individuals systematically targeted women with enticing offers to help them establish small-scale businesses. They allegedly persuaded the victims to purchase various machines from them, including automatic fabric manual non-woven bag machines, hairband cutting machines, and sanitary napkin manufacturing units. The scheme was cleverly marketed under the banner of women's empowerment, making it particularly appealing to aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Police Inspector Tukaram Chavan detailed how the main accused, Sumitra Dattatray Patil, who operates as the proprietor of Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra, along with her husband Dattatray Patil, specifically targeted complainant Hema Salelkar from Nirankal. They convinced her to invest in an automatic fabric manual non-woven bag machine, setting a pattern that would be repeated with numerous other women across the region.
Sophisticated Fraud Tactics Employed
The accused presented themselves as professionals dedicated to women's economic advancement, making several bold promises to lure their victims:
- Guaranteed monthly income from the proposed business ventures
- Complete buyback arrangements for finished products
- Reliable supply of raw materials for manufacturing
- Assistance in securing government loans or subsidies under prominent schemes including PMEGP, Mudra, and EDC
To create urgency and pressure victims into quick decisions, the fraudsters falsely claimed that the machines were in limited supply. This manufactured scarcity tactic compelled many women to make immediate payments without proper due diligence or verification of the claims.
Financial Transactions and Broken Agreements
The financial scale of this alleged fraud is substantial. The primary complainant, Hema Salelkar, reportedly paid over Rs 18 lakh through both cash transactions and bank transfers directly to Sumitra Patil. Collectively, other affected women transferred approximately Rs 1.5 crore to Sumitra, her husband Dattatray, and their associated business entities, which included Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra and SD Corporation.
After receiving these significant payments, Sumitra Patil entered into standard agreements with the complainant and at least 14 other women. However, these contracts proved worthless as the promised benefits never materialized.
Incomplete Deliveries and Financial Manipulation
Instead of fulfilling their commitments, the accused delivered incomplete machinery to the complainant and provided similarly defective equipment and substandard materials to other victims. According to Inspector Chavan's investigation, the fraudsters failed to supply proper machinery or quality raw materials, neglected their buyback promises for finished goods, and abruptly stopped payments after making only small initial transfers to some victims.
The EOC's investigation revealed an even more calculated aspect of this scheme. Approximately Rs 10 lakh was deliberately returned to some complainants, creating an illusion of legitimacy and trustworthiness. This strategic refund was designed to make the entire operation appear genuine, thereby encouraging more women to participate without suspicion.
Substantial Financial Loss and Legal Consequences
The remaining amount of around Rs 1.5 crore was allegedly misappropriated by the accused, resulting in significant financial losses for the victimized women and corresponding illegal gains for the perpetrators. This case highlights the vulnerability of aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women seeking economic independence through government-supported schemes.
The registration of the FIR marks a crucial step in holding the accused accountable and seeking justice for the affected women. The Economic Offences Cell continues its investigation into this elaborate fraud that exploited women's empowerment initiatives for criminal financial gain.
