Andhra Prof duped of Rs 2.20 lakh by travel agent

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 23 

A Professor from Andhra Pradesh, who landed at the Chandigarh international airport in Mohali along with 13 family members, was in for a shock after being allegedly duped of Rs 2.20 lakh by Delhi-based travel agent.

In his complaint to the Mohali police, the victim, Veerabhadra Reddy, alleged that he and his family members, including eight children, were left harassed at the airport in Mohali after being allegedly cheated by Raman Kumar, a Delhi-based travel agent.

“Raman Kumar had to send vehicles to pick us up from the Chandigarh airport and take us to Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala in a seven-day tour package. Today, neither did he send any vehicle, nor did he pick up any calls on his three mobile phone numbers. When we enquired from hotels, which, he claimed, he had booked for us, they said there was no such booking,” alleged Professor Reddy.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune over the phone, Professor Reddy claimed that he had booked a Himachal package for his and his brother’s family members and had deposited Rs 2.20 lakh in an account in a private bank on the directions of Raman Kumar, with whom he established contact through a website. “We landed at the Chandigarh airport this afternoon and found that we had been cheated by him,” said Professor Reddy.

The Mohali police said they had received a complaint from the victim. “As the case does not fall in our jurisdiction, we will forward it to the SSP, Andhra Pradesh, tomorrow”, said Harbhajan Singh, an official of the Mohali police, claiming that Raman Kumar was not answering any call on his mobile numbers. Despite several attempts, Raman Kumar could not be contacted.