Mumbai firm owners booked for cheating 17 Surat clients of 30.8L

Surat: Althan police have booked the owners of a Mumbai-based visa consultancy firm for allegedly duping 17 Surat residents who sought work permits for Europe. The accused, Sonali Khanchandani and Dishant Maniar, reportedly collected a total of Rs 30.80 lakh from the victims but failed to arrange any work permits.According to the police, complainant Bhumika Dilkhush (47), who runs a visa consultancy in Althan, had been working with Shrikant Sharma for visa processing and legal verification for several years. Sharma introduced her to the Mumbai-based duo, who owned a firm in Malad, and the parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the terms of collaboration.
Dilkhush initially referred four clients to Khanchandani and Maniar and transferred Rs 10.20 lakh for processing. Later, she referred 13 more clients for Austrian work permits, transferring an additional Rs 20.60 lakh. However, when the visas and permits were not provided within the promised timeframe, the accused allegedly gave excuses, including delays at the embassy.The accused also offered work permits for Luxembourg. When Dilkhush contacted the company suggested by the duo, it denied issuing any job offers. Realising she had been duped, Dilkhush demanded the return of Rs 30.80 lakh on behalf of her 17 clients, but the accused refused.