Two more accuse Pooch of cheating

AHMEDABAD: Dhruti Pooch, 47, the tour operator accused of duping people by the promise of foreign tours could be in more trouble, as two more people approached police, claiming to have been cheated of lakhs. Pooch, who runs the Isabelle Travels agency in partnership with a politically influential person, blamed demonetization and fluctuations in air fares for the losses she incurred.
Normally, police don’t allow media persons to speak accused persons in police custody, but Pooch, the owner of Isabelle Travels, seemed special as they almost encouraged reporters to speak to her.
Sitting on the floor of the investigation room at Sola police station, Pooch said: “I have been running this business for 12 years in the name of my daughter, Isabelle, who is now based in the US. How I can cheat my customers?”
After the complaint of cheating for Rs 21 lakh filed by a person seeking to emigrate was reported in the media, many other alleged victims, including a mother seeking a liver transplant for her infant son, came forward. The woman narrated how Pooch duped them of Rs 10 lakh while promising to send them to Singapore for the transplant surgery.
Pooch blamed demonetization, despite her tour cancellations being made much before November 8. She also said fluctuating air fares led to her losses.
On Wednesday, two more complainants approached police. “One of them was a family eleven who paid Pooch Rs 2.75 lakh to go to Dubai but lost their money,” added a police official.
Pooch said she was associated with a politician but didn’t get help when she needed it. For about 15 minutes in the investigation room, Pooch tried to clarify that she was “an honest businesswoman”.