Scamster's car-nama comes to a halt

Rupesh Verma had been duping unsuspecting victims of their cars for 3 years; cops have seized 150 cars of his rental service

Car Chor: Rupesh Verma

Rupesh Verma had been duping unsuspecting victims of their cars for 3 years; cops have seized 150 cars of his rental service

Rupesh Verma duped thousands of Indians in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Pune and Bangalore by promising them quick money and absconding with their cars. His three-year-long con job ended when the Delhi police caught him in December 2009. The Mumbai Economic Offences Wing (EOW) will soon bring him to the city. Sanjay Saxena, additional commissioner of police, EOW said, "We will bring him from Jaipur after the police complete their enquiry there. There have been a number of complaints regarding his car rental scheme and we have seized 150 cars." The cars are now kept in Borivli.


Modus operandi

Police sources said Verma, who ran Om Sai Nath car rental service, would get an 'investor' to buy a car and register it in his name. He would enter into an agreement with the investor to lease it to him for a period of five years for a monthly rent of Rs 6,250 to Rs 14,450 depending on the model. However, Verma would pay the rent for the first few months and then abscond with the car.

Seized: The vehicles are now parked under the Magathane flyover bridge on the Western Express Highway at Kandivli. Pic/Rane Ashish

The policeman added, "Verma would either use the car for his tourism business or sell it. He has over 100 cars in his own name too. We have seized these cars and the 'leased' cars from his office." Sources said Verma also has over 10 hotels and resorts in various cities and has earned crores of rupees through his scam.

One of Verma's victims, who wished to remain anonymous said, "In 2006, I entered into a 5-year agreement with Verma in which I gave him my car and received monthly rent of Rs 7,000. Six days back, I found that Mumbai police had seized my car. They said I can collect the car only through the court now."