Jun 22 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai) Couples conned by 'friend' of their kids living abroad Ahmed Ali Mumbai:   50-Year-Old Held For Duping Senior Citizens Police have arrested a 50-year-old former diamond merchant who duped senior citizens pretending to be a friend of their children living abroad.With the arrest of Sunil Pujara, Matunga police claim to have solved five offences committed in the past six months. They recovered USD 400, 90 grams gold and 1.5 kg silver from him, besides a receipt of a fivestar hotel in BKC where the daily room rent is Rs 14,000. Matunga police had earlier arrested Pujara exactly on the same date, June 16, in 2005 for a similar offence. During interrogation, he allegedly said he used to spend the money on lavish lifestyle and gambling in casinos of Goa. Explaining his modus operandi, police said Pujara would walk into posh buildings, befriend the guard and collect details about elderly couples living alone. “In one case, he knocked on the door of one Hemraj Shah and introduced himself as Jayesh Patel. Pujara claimed to be a friend of Shah's US-based son and that he was in India on holiday ,“ said Balasaheb Kakad, senior inspector of Matunga police station. “To win their confidence, he would even tell names and other details of their family members. Later, Pujara would say he had bought a flat nearby and needed gold ornaments to keep it for the house warming ceremony .“ N Ambika, DCP (Zone 4), said, “Once they hand him over a few ornaments, he would disappear.“ Police said Pujara was caught on CCTV camera of a building near Matunga station where he conned a senior citizen. They immediately flashed his photo all over Matunga. “On June 16, a local resident alerted me that a person with similar features was moving around near LN Road.When we rushed to the spot, we found him doing recce of a new target. We detained him,“ said ACP Deepak Katkade. Ambika said Antop hill police and Wadala police have approached them as there were a few similar cases and they suspect his involvement. Police have also issued advisory to senior citizens and sensitised security guards of the residential complexes not to entertain strangers.  Click To Enlarge