NCB's 'independent witness' accused of cheating, forgery

The Pune police on Monday booked Kiran P Gosavi, one of the Narcotics Control Bureau's "independent witnesses" in the cruise ship raid in a case of cheating and forgery. Chinmay Deshmukh accused Gosavi and his assistant Sherbanu Qureishi of cheating him on over Rs 300,000, promising him a job in Malaysia in 2018.

Two days ago, the Palghar police had lodged an FIR in a similar two-year-old complaint naming Gosavi. Gosavi shot to limelight after the Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik exposed his antics. The Pune police have nabbed Qureshi from Mumbai.

Adarsh Keni and Utkarsh Tare of Edawan village claim they were duped of Rs 1.65 lakh under the pretext of jobs in Kuala Lumpur hotels in 2018. After Gosavi's credentials came under the radar in the NCB raid of the cruise ship on October 2, the Pune police have formed two special squads which are hunting for him in both the state and neighbouring states. The Pune police also issued a lookout notice for him on October 4. He currently faces at least four cases. As per police sources, Gosavi was allegedly involved in fake visas and air tickets rackets. He collected money from his victims who were debarred from entering the Mumbai airport or other airports to catch international flights.

Gosavi was known for a flashy lifestyle and, along with his associates, might have duped youngsters looking for jobs abroad. Gosavi further claims to be a private detective with links to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He runs a company in Mumbai and is connected with police and narcotics department officials.