Panaji: The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) of Goa police has registered an FIR against a husband and wife from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and others linked to Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra, for allegedly cheating around 23 women in Goa of over Rs 1.5 crore. The accused allegedly promised to help the women start small businesses, asked them to buy machines from them, and assured them they would buy back the finished products. They also claimed the women would get govt subsidies.PI Tukaram Chavan said Sumitra Dattatray Patil, proprietor of Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra, along with her husband Dattatray Patil, induced the complainant, Hema Salelkar from Nirankal, to invest in an automatic fabric manual non-woven bag machine. Several other women were persuaded to buy machines such as non-woven bag machines, hairband cutting machines, and sanitary napkin manufacturing machines, under the banner of women’s empowerment.Chavan said the accused claimed they were professionals working for women’s empowerment and promised guaranteed monthly income, buyback of finished goods, supply of raw materials, and help in getting govt loans or subsidies under PMEGP, Mudra, and EDC schemes.They also allegedly told the women that the machines were in limited supply and pressured them to make immediate payments.The complainant paid over Rs 18 lakh through cash and bank transfers to Sumitra. Other women together paid around Rs 1.5 crore to Sumitra, her husband, and their firms, including Maharashtra Mahila Udyog Vikas Kendra and SD Corporation.After receiving the money, Sumitra signed standard agreements with the complainant and 14 others. However, the complainant received incomplete machinery, and others also received incomplete machines and poor-quality materials.Chavan said the accused did not supply proper machinery or raw materials, failed to buy back finished goods, and stopped payments after making small initial transfers.The EOC said about Rs 10 lakh was returned to some complainants to make the scheme appear genuine. The remaining amount of around Rs 1.5 crore was allegedly misappropriated, causing loss to the women and gain to the accused.
