Nagpur: Sonegaon police have registered a case against a 65-year-old man from Parbhani for allegedly trying to cheat a Somalwada-based farmer-cum-businessman in an Rs 8 crore fake liquor shop licence deal. The alleged fraudster was trapped and arrested on Tuesday.Dilip Suryavanshi (59) of Panchdeep Nagar, Somalwada, told police he runs an agricultural business and earlier operated a transport service that supplied liquor. He wanted liquor shops for his two sons. Unable to get a new licence, he decided to buy an existing one.A friend, Kumar Raut (40) of Dighori Chowk, introduced him to Rohidas Gaikwad of Parbhani. Gaikwad produced what he claimed was a valid Parbhani liquor shop licence and offered it for Rs 8 crore, with Rs 4 crore to be paid in cash and the rest through cheque.When Suryavanshi asked for the original document, the accused handed over only a photocopy and said the original was deposited with the licensing office, said police.Suryavanshi went to the excise department, checked the papers and found the licence was fake. Gaikwad later called Suryavanshi again to close the deal. Suryavanshi invited Gaikwad to Nagpur, prepared an agreement and took possession of the documents before approaching Sonegaon police on Sept 8.Officers are now probing how the fake licence was prepared and whether anyone else was involved in the alleged fraud, said senior inspector Rahul Tasre of Sonegaon police station. He said the state excise department is yet to confirm the licences in possession of Gaikwad are fake.
