Beware of calls for parcel clearance from ‘customs’

This couple extorted over Rs 68 lakh, held

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: City police arrested a couple who had allegedly duped several people under the guise of Airport Customs officials. The accused were identified by the police as Darbin Das and his wife Dhanushya.

Both were arrested based on a complaint filed by one of their victims alleging that Dhanushya, a resident of Udupi district, had extorted Rs 68 lakh from her with a fake promise of a job at the customs. Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the couple had allegedly siphoned off money from several other people by luring them with an assurance of selling the items seized at the customs, including gold jewellery, iphones, laptops and other gadgets, at low prices.

One of the victims of the fraud, Sneha K, who runs an academy near Indiranagar, alleged that Dhanushya had introduced herself and her husband Darbin Das saying that he works at the customs department of Kempegowda International Airport in the city.

Dhanushya had also claimed to have gold hoards seized by the customs, which she had further intended to sell at cheaper prices. Hoping to get gold at cheaper prices, Sneha allegedly paid them Rs 68 lakh over a period of time. However, after getting the money, the couple went missing and switched off their contact numbers.

Realising she had been conned, the victim filed a complaint with the Kodigehalli police. During the probe, the cops found that the couple had also extorted money from the school teachers where their daughter had been studying. The couple had also conned their neighbours and several other residents, who easily fell for their ploy.

A teacher working at a school in Devanahalli allegedly lost Rs 96,750 to Darbin Das, who had promised her a job at the customs department, police said. Speaking to News Trail, police said that Das and Dhanushya were arrested in Udupi. It was revealed that the couple had recently got a rented house in Maryhills, Mangaluru. With their arrest, the police claimed to have recovered Rs 34.5 lakh and 106.965 grams of gold jewellery. Further interrogation is underway, police said.