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Surathkal: Police arrest four on charges of cheating people of crores in ‘lucky scheme’ scams


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 23, 2025: The Surathkal Police recently arrested four persons in connection with two cases of “lucky scheme” scam wherein the accused allegedly cheated hundreds of gullible customers to the tune of crores of rupees.

In one case, Ahmed Quereshi and Nazir alias Nasir allegedly cheated over 3,000 people to the tune of ₹4.2 crore through New Shine Enterprises lucky scheme wherein they collected ₹1,000 each from customers for 11 months. The accused, having office at Ayisha complex near Samsuddin Circle, Katipalla II Block, offered attractive prizes including vehicles, flats, house sites, cash etc. Both were residents of Katipalla.


Scheme


The action was initiated on a complaint by Shivaprasad, resident of Soorinje village near Surathkal, who said that the scheme was illegal as it was an unregulated deposit scheme and sought action against the accused.

The Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said cases were registered against the accused under Section 21 of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, and Sections 316 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) for criminal breach of trust and cheating. A jurisdictional court remanded them to police custody till August 25.

While Quereshi faces two cases of attempt to murder and one case of obstructing a government servant from discharging duty, Nazir faces one case of attempt to murder in the commissionerate limits. The police have seized computers, draw coins, lucky draw box, registers, DVRs etc., from their office. Police are also investigating their association with other “lucky scheme” operators, Mr. Reddy said.

₹10 crore cheating

In another case, the police arrested Mohammed Ashraf Bajpe, resident of Mourishka Palace, Kadri-Kambala and Mohammed Hanief, resident of Krishnapura, on charges of cheating over 13,000 people to the tune of more than ₹10 crore in the name of “Royal Scheme”  and “Green Light Lucky Scheme”. They were functioning from an office BMR Complex, Samshuddin Circle, Katipalla. The action was initiated on the complaint by Bhujanga Poojary, resident of Chelair. A jurisdictional court on August 19 remanded them to 15 days judicial custody, Mr. Reddy said.

Cases were booked under similar provisions of the BUDS Act and BNS against the accused. The police have requested the Revenue Department to seize properties procured out of the proceeds of the scam. Mr. Reddy asked people who have invested in these schemes to approach the Surathkal police with relevant documents.

The Surathkal Police Inspector P. Pramod Kumar led the probe with PSIs Raghu Naik, Raghavendra Nai, Janardhan Naik and Shashidhar Shetty, ASIs Taranath and Rajesh Alva and other personnel.