Panaji: Anjuna police on Friday arrested Gauresh Shirodkar, a resident of Mandur, who faces multiple charges of cheating tourists by offering them a fake holiday package.The latest case involves the alleged duping of Nida Fathima (26) from Ramanagaram, Karnataka.Police said there are three FIRs of alleged cheating against Shirodkar at Anjuna police station itself.“Shirodkar has been arrested considering the organised nature of the alleged operation, multiple complaints and FIRs, and the need to identify other persons involved,” a police officer involved with the investigation said.Shirodkar operated GOII Vacation Pvt Ltd and deployed field staff to lure prospective customers through methods including distribution of scratch cards.“The modus operandi followed was customers would be called at Hotel Lemon Tree, Arpora, where presentations on holiday packages were made, asking them to pay. Fathima paid Rs 99,430, and got cheated,” he said.Shirodkar has four FIRs at Panaji police station, and one each at Calangute police station and economic offences cell, Panaji, for similar offences, including an organised pattern of duping tourists, the police officer said.After his arrest, Shirodkar was produced before the Mapusa court, which sent him to three days’ police custody.Further investigation is in progress.
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