Mumbai: Airport police have registered an FIR against two men in a private car who duped a flyer of Rs 2,000 while ferrying him from Terminal 1 of the Mumbai International Airport to Terminal 2.
Incident Details
The incident occurred early on Tuesday. The 33-year-old flyer, a garment businessman based out of Sion, wanted to fly from Mumbai to Lucknow to visit his hometown in Uttar Pradesh. He arrived at Terminal 1 of the airport in Vile Parle at 3:55 am. While attempting to web check-in, he realized his flight was scheduled to depart from Terminal 2 at 4:45 am, prompting him to rush to Terminal 2.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to his statement to the police, a white car with two people in the front seat stopped in front of him as he waited at the departure gate. The driver asked if he wanted to go to Terminal 2. The complainant replied in the affirmative, assuming that the second individual in the car was also a passenger like himself. When he inquired about the fare, the driver said they could discuss the money later.
After traveling some distance, the other individual seated next to the driver stated that the charge would be Rs 819 for the journey. The complainant, not wanting to miss his flight, agreed. Later, the driver increased the fare to Rs 1,000, claiming he would drop the flyer directly on the 10th floor. While getting off the cab, the complainant handed over two currency notes of Rs 500 each to the driver.
However, the driver pretended he had been paid only Rs 200 and showed the complainant two currency notes of Rs 100 each. In a hurry to leave, the complainant paid him another Rs 1,000. Ultimately, he missed his flight and had to book another flight for later that day. While going through his wallet, he realized that the driver had taken Rs 2,000 from him. He subsequently lodged a police complaint.
Police Action
Airport police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter. The complainant has provided details of the vehicle and the suspects. Authorities urge passengers to use only authorized transport services at the airport and to be cautious of touts.
