Doc on run for 6 mths arrested for 70L fraud

Kalyan: A doctor accused of duping several people of nearly Rs 70 lakh under the pretext of a running pharmacy was arrested on Monday after evading police for six months. His wife, a co-accused in the case, is still absconding, officials said.The accused, Dr Prasad Yadavrao Sali, was nabbed by a team led by assistant police inspector Vijay Gaikwad from Khadakpada police station. He was produced before a Kalyan court, which remanded him in police custody till Friday. According to Khadakpada police, Sali and his wife, Vaishali Prasad Sali, allegedly lured victims by promising them returns through a pharmacy venture and collected large sums of money before going incommunicado. A complaint in the matter was filed on Sept 13 last year by Pragya Kamble and Dr Rahul Dubey, who claimed to have been cheated. During the course of the investigation, police found that several others were similarly cheated. Police officials said the couple had been absconding since their anticipatory bail plea was rejected. "After sustained efforts, we have arrested the main accused. A special team has been formed to trace his wife and she will be apprehended soon," said investigating officer Vijay Gaikwad. Police are probing the case further to ascertain the full extent of the fraud and identify additional victims.