Fake PAN card: Pawar's `secretary' in cop net again

MUMBAI: A fresh case of forgery has been registered against alleged con woman Kavita alias Smita Desai, who claimed to be close to Sharad Pawar while reportedly duping many people. The latest case alleges she obtained two PAN cards bearing her own photographs, but different identities.
Investigating officer Anil Badgujar of Bandra police says, "When we first arrested Desai on October 6, she identified herself as Mudra Sabnis and produced a PAN card bearing the same name.However, during the investigation, when we contacted Oshiwara police officers, they told us she had another PAN card with the name Smita Desai and the same photo that was on the card purportedly belonging to Sabnis."
Police officers contacted the income-tax department after the revelation to check how the same person was issued cards in different names. Police inspector Prakash George of Bandra police station said: "The accused had taken a PAN card in her original name (Smita Desai) in 2001. However, in April 2009, she acquired another PAN card bearing her own photograph but in Mudra Sabnis' name. Subsequently, she used the second card to dupe her victims and also for acquiring flats on rent in Bandra."
Police officials are waiting for details of the fake documents that Desai had submitted to the income-tax department to investigate the matter further. Police officials said Desai duped people by promising them to get flats at discounted rates under the chief minister's quota. Cases of cheating have been registered against her at Oshiwara, Goregaon and Andheri besides Bandra police station. She is suspected to have duped many persons to the tune of more than Rs 2 crore and is currently in the custody of Oshiwara police station.