Accused posed as medical practitioner, promised treatment for swollen legs; accomplice absconding

Nagpur: The Nagpur Crime Branch's Unit 3 arrested a 40-year-old man from Rajasthan within two hours of a complaint alleging that he and an accomplice cheated a 73-year-old senior citizen of ₹3.5 lakh by offering fraudulent treatment for his swollen legs. Police seized cash and a two-wheeler, with the total value of the recovered property estimated at ₹4.5 lakh.

The arrested accused has been identified as Mohammed Bablu Mohammed Salim, a resident of Bundi district in Rajasthan. His alleged accomplice, Mohammed Salam Nuruddin (45), also from Bundi, is absconding, and police have launched a search for him.

According to police, the victim, Gopal Pandurang Nimje, a resident of VHB Colony in Shantinagar, suffers from diabetes and has swelling in both legs. On October 26, he met two men at Rani Durgawati Chowk while out for personal work.

One of the men introduced himself as Arun and allegedly claimed that his father had suffered from a similar condition but recovered after receiving treatment from a doctor in Haridwar. The duo offered to arrange treatment for Nimje and obtained his address and mobile number.

At around 8.30 am on October 27, one of the suspects allegedly called Nimje, posing as a doctor and claiming to have arrived near his residence to treat him. The elderly man invited the caller and his associate into his house.

During the purported treatment, the duo allegedly told Nimje that pus had accumulated in his legs and that 100 sticks were needed to remove it. After the procedure, they claimed to have used all 100 sticks and demanded ₹3,500 per stick, totalling ₹3.5 lakh. Nimje allegedly paid the amount in cash.

When his condition failed to improve, he repeatedly tried to contact the caller but found that the mobile phone was switched off. Realising that he had been cheated, he approached Shantinagar police.

A case was registered under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, Crime Branch Unit 3 personnel inspected the spot, examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area and gathered intelligence to identify the suspects.

Police subsequently detained Mohammed Bablu within two hours of receiving information about the offence. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to carrying out the fraud with his absconding accomplice.

The police seized cash and a two-wheeler allegedly used in the crime. The accused and the seized property were handed over to Shantinagar police for further legal action.

The search for the second accused and further investigation are underway.