Investigations revealed that over 100 people were conned into depositing about Rs three lakh in Mehra’s account between November 2007 and January 2008 for being provided “good looking female friends.” Police said that an advertisement published in the “party entertainment” column of an English newspaper in November 2007 gave a cell phone number for seeking “genuine, decent, independent, smart, young, good looking female friends.” The advertisement resulted in many including Major Chouhan rise to the bait. When Chouhan called on the number mentioned in the classified ad, the lady who attended, asked him to deposit Rs 6,000 in an ICICI bank account for being provided the service. Chouhan then deposited the money in this account, but never got the promised female friend. Also, the cell phone number through which he sought the “female friend” soon stopped responding to his calls and soon went out of service. Thereafter, he lodged a police complaint.

Investigating officer Police Sub Inspector M B Suryawanshi, traced the account from ICICI Bank and arrested Mehra, in whose name the account was opened, in Borivli on March 5. On interrogation, Mehra admitted that his friend Salve had asked him to open the account, against a monthly fee of Rs 3,200 per month. Salve told Mehra that the bank account would be used for collecting membership fees of a social club run by a known lady.

Salve was soon arrested and the police are now searching for the lady who spoke to the customers on mobile phone. The police suspect the lady was the mastermind behind this racket.

Sudam Choure, advisor of Pune police cyber committee, said many like Mehra and Salve are falling prey to fraudsters. “Once the fraud comes to light, the main criminals escape, while the accomplices get arrested as the bank accounts are in their name,” he said.