Retd GoI secy, Ex-Servicemen duped of Rs 25L

Mohali: Several senior citizens, including a former secretary to Govt of India and retired defence officers, were allegedly duped of nearly Rs 25 lakh in the name of a foreign tour package to Vietnam and Cambodia. Police registered a case against a Gurugram-based couple following a complaint by the victims in Mohali.The complainants are residents of Falcon View Society in Sector 66A. They include former secretary to Govt of India, Rajiv Dutt, Group Captain Kuldeep Singh, Colonel Hardev Singh, Colonel N K Kohli, Wing Commander Balwinder Singh, and several other senior citizens.
In their complaint, the victims alleged that in May 2025, a tour package titled "Travel with Rajiv" was proposed for a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. The accused, identified as Rajiv Parameswaran, allegedly made a detailed presentation through his representative at the clubhouse of Falcon View Society to promote the tour.During the presentation, participants were promised an attractive package that included international travel, accommodation in 4-star hotels, domestic flights, meals, visas, and travel insurance. The cost of the tour was fixed at Rs 1.40 lakh per person.Following the presentation, 18 residents agreed to join the tour and made payments through various modes, including bank transfers and other transactions.However, the complainants alleged that in Aug 2025, the accused informed them that the travel dates had to be changed due to a change in flight schedule. Seven participants who were not willing to travel on the revised dates requested a refund and were issued post-dated cheques.Later, the entire tour was cancelled, and refund cheques were issued to the remaining participants. When the victims deposited the cheques in their bank accounts, they reportedly bounced, as only about Rs 1,500 was found in the account linked to the payments.During preliminary enquiries, it also emerged that a significant portion of the amount, around Rs 24.99 lakh collected from the victims, was allegedly transferred to the bank account of the wife of the accused, Anjali Parameswaran.Police registered a case against Rajiv Parameswaran and his wife under relevant sections of BNS. Further investigation is on. MSID:: 129335928 413 |