Police in Ghaziabad have arrested a man accused of orchestrating a significant car rental fraud, where he allegedly secured 11 vehicles only to use some as collateral to raise money for his struggling business.
The Arrest and Charges
Masuri police detained 32-year-old Ubaid Ullah, a resident of Moradabad, on Monday following a formal complaint of cheating. The case has been registered under BNS Section 318(4). Authorities confirmed that their investigation has led to the recovery of eight of the 11 vehicles from various locations.
How the Elaborate Scheme Unfolded
The plot began in March this year when Ullah first connected with a Dasna resident named Nadeem through an online classifieds platform. After several months of communication, Ullah visited Nadeem's home in July and proposed a business idea: renting cars for commercial use.
To build trust, the initial transaction proceeded smoothly. Nadeem handed over a Honda City on July 25 for a monthly rent of Rs 30,000. Ullah made the first payment on time, which encouraged Nadeem to expand the arrangement. Over the following weeks, Nadeem helped arrange more vehicles from other owners, gradually increasing the fleet entrusted to Ullah.
By September, the number of cars had grown to 11, and a formal rental agreement was finally signed in mid-November.
The Scheme Collapses
Problems emerged when several of the rented cars remained idle, leading to financial losses. Investigators allege that Ullah then asked for all the vehicles to be brought to his residence in Moradabad. Facing a severe cash crunch, he allegedly mortgaged two of the cars after falsely presenting himself as their owner. Police have since recovered these two vehicles.
In a further attempt to raise funds, Ullah is accused of sending five cars to an acquaintance in Meerut for similar purposes. The remaining vehicles were reportedly handed over to various drivers. Police are conducting further inquiries to trace all the transactions and determine if other individuals were involved in the fraud.
The case highlights the risks in informal rental agreements and the importance of verifying credentials in business dealings. The investigation by Masuri police remains active as they work to fully unravel the financial trail and locate any remaining assets.
