Two arrested for defrauding woman using fake lease agreement

Kochi: Central police arrested two men for allegedly defrauding a 41-year-old woman of Rs 20 lakh by making her sign a fake lease agreement for a flat. The arrested persons were Ajil Sebastian, 31, of Njarackal and Arjun C L, 33, of Mulavukadu. Other accused in the case are still at large, police said.As per the complainant, the accused made her believe that they have a flat in the city for lease. They then sent her photos of the apartment number 15 of Green Vistas Prakrriti. On Dec 11, she was made to sign a lease agreement and paid Rs 20 lakh through multiple transfers. The woman then started to stay in the apartment. However, on Feb 3, the original owners came to know about it and asked her to vacate the flat. Police said that the accused were also involved in multiple cheating cases. The accused were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. Sources said that the accused have also duped many others through similar scam. Police are investigating the extent of the scam and trying to trace the remaining others who are involved. Man held for fraud, abuse: A 28-year-old man was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman and fraudulently obtaining money and gold jewellery from her under the pretence of starting a business. According to Kalady police, Niyas from Pappinisseri in Kannur allegedly promised marriage to the complainant, a woman who was separated from her husband, and sexually assaulted her between 2022 and 2023. He also convinced her to give him 16 sovereigns of gold and Rs 1 lakh for a business venture. When the complainant demanded that he return her gold and money, he physically assaulted her, police said. There was also another case against Niyas at Shoranur police station for impersonating as a train ticket examiner. The investigation team was led by inspector Anil Kumar T Meppillil.