Man who duped many of free packages in 5-star hotels, held

The Crime Branch has arrested the fugitive Director of Sun Star "The Club & Goodluck Hotels Pvt Ltd" from Indore, MP who was wanted in several cases of cheating in Delhi, UP and Gujarat.

The accused had duped thousands of members on the pretext of providing luxurious holiday tour packages in 5-star hotels.

The arrested 40-year-old Raman Kapoor, a resident of Ahmedabad, Gujarat along with his wife and other associates used to lure the innocent people for free dinner in 5-star hotels.

Following this, they used to sell membership by promising attractive offer of 12 nights free holiday tour packages annually in 5-star hotels with air tickets for 20 years if they become members.

They claimed that the Sun Star had a tie-up with other 5 star properties at all prime tourist locations in India and abroad like JW Marriot (Mumbai, Courtyard, Ahmedabad and Lucknow), Le Meridian (Delhi and Chennai), ITC Welcome (Dwarka, Delhi), Leela Ambience Hotel (Delhi), Four Points by Sheraton (Vadodara).

The accused also assured the members that they can discontinue membership on 10th/20th year after which they are entitled to get back the entire membership amount.

The representatives of the company cheated the complainant on the pretext of providing holiday packages for 12 nights per year in 5-star hotels with air-tickets for 20 years after membership.

But when one tried to avail the holiday, the complainant did not get any response from the company.

On this, a case of cheating was registered by Crime Branch after preliminary inquiry.

Subsequently, the raid was conducted and the accused Raman Kapoor was successfully traced and arrested by Crime Branch on the intervening night of 19 and 20 June outside Kalinga Hotel, South Tukaganj, Indore.

"They used to send their employees in busy markets and petrol pumps, etc. with coupons of their company for filling the same by the general public. The employees used to lure the people that if their name would come in the lucky draw, they would be invited for free dinner with family in a 5-star hotel in the city," said DCP Madhur Verma.

During the investigation, bank accounts of the company were kept frozen.

Efforts are being made to trace more victims of the case and arrest the other absconding accused.