Team Herald
PANJIM: The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) is dragging its feet in apprehending Ajju C S Sindolli, who has allegedly cheated Goan investors to the tune of crores of rupees.
Information reveals five FIRs (First Information Report) have been filed against Sindolli, who had an office named ‘Ajju Mines and Minerals’ at Patto, opposite Ambedkar Garden. The EOC is investigating the matter.
Sindolli, doesn’t have a permanent address in Goa and was involved in the mines business when mining operations were on prior to 2012.
According to the complainants, Sindolli used to frequently change his residence in North Goa. Soon after mining operations were shut down in Goa, Sindolli diverted his attention to real estate.
As per the complainants, Sindolli used to offer good returns to the investments and offer prime properties after accepting advance funds.
The complainants said that the Sindolli’s victims are not limited to five but there are more. “Not all the victims have come on record to file complaints against Sindolli with a hope that they will recover money. The modus operandi which he has used was pre-decided,” one of the complainants said.
According to the police, five different complaints were lodged at the EOC accusing Sindolli of cheating the complainants of over Rs 1 crore.
Of the five complainants, three are from Tivim of whom two are mother and daughter, besides them Sindolli has allegedly cheated an NRI from Nerul and another person from Porvorim. All five complaints were lodged with EOC in December last year. The first four complaints were lodged on December 2, 2015.
Complainants say they used visit Sindolli’s office in Panjim and when they realized that like them there are many people visiting the office to recover the money, they approached the law enforcing agency.
The first FIR was lodged by 65-year-old Maria Mascarenhas and her daughter Maria Elizabeth Mascarenhas residents of Tivim. Maria was an employee of the accused but had left the job.
As per Maria’s complaint, Sindolli cheated the mother and daughter to the tune of Rs 15,75,235 which they had arranged by mortgaging gold ornaments in a bank.
In another complaint, Andrew Rodrigues from Porvorim claimed that the accused in 2006, allegedly on the pretext of purchasing property at Banda on 50 percent partnership took Rs 30,96,000. Rodrigues is presently sick since he realized that Sindolli has cheated him.
Another compliant was lodged by one Paul Saldanha from Nerul. According to him he has invested Rs 75.98 lakh with the accused.
