Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Navi Mumbai businessman alleges ₹71 lakh hawala cheating
A businessman in Navi Mumbai needed money in South Africa for his work.
He could not use regular banks, so he searched for another way to send the money.
A friend introduced him to some people who said they could move the money for him.
He gave them one crore rupees in cash.
They promised to send it to South Africa and take a small fee.
But they never sent the money overseas.
They gave back only twenty-nine lakh rupees and kept the rest.
The businessman asked the court for help.
Now the police are investigating and looking for the people who took the money.
Prashant Nadar, a 37-year-old Ulwe businessman, alleged he was cheated of ₹71 lakh by four people in a purported hawala-linked fund transfer deal.
The accused allegedly promised to transfer ₹1 crore to South Africa through a hawala network for a seven per cent commission.
Nadar allegedly handed over ₹1 crore in cash to Ashish Hemchandra Manjrekar on April 18, 2023, in the presence of three other accused.
The accused returned ₹29 lakh but never repaid the remaining ₹71 lakh despite issuing promissory notes and cheques.
APMC Police registered an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 318(4), 316(2), and 3(5) on court directions and are tracing the accused.
- Who
- Prashant Nadar, a 37-year-old Ulwe businessman who runs a mining equipment rental business in Guinea, South Africa; the accused are Lalit Sahu, Ashish Hemchandra Manjrekar, Manavi Manjrekar, and Mahesh Manjrekar.
- What
- Alleged cheating of ₹71 lakh in a hawala-linked fund transfer to South Africa; APMC Police filed an FIR after the promised ₹1 crore transfer never happened and only ₹29 lakh was returned.
- When
- The ₹1 crore was handed over on April 18, 2023; the FIR was registered on court directions and the case was reported on August 7, 2026.
- Where
- Navi Mumbai, India (APMC Police Station jurisdiction); the funds were meant to be transferred to South Africa.
- Why
- Nadar needed funds abroad after financial transactions in the African nation came to a standstill in March 2023, and regular banking channels were unavailable.
- Complainant
- Prashant Nadar, 37, Ulwe businessman
- Amount allegedly cheated
- ₹71 lakh
- Cash handed over
- ₹1 crore on April 18, 2023
- Promised commission
- 7 per cent
- Amount returned
- ₹29 lakh
- Police station
- APMC Police, Navi Mumbai
- FIR sections
- BNS 318(4), 316(2), 3(5)