Police in the Indian capital of New Delhi have arrested a father and son duo dressed in anti-radiation suits for allegedly conning a businessman of Rs. 14,300,000 ($281,500 AUD approx), claiming they worked with NASA.
According to the police, the accused hoodwinked a businessman, identified only as Narendra, into paying the amount to buy a copper plate that they claimed was sought by research agencies, including India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and NASA.
Police said the accused, Virender Mohan Brar and his son Baba Brar, claimed the plate was a “rice puller” that was charged by lightning and told Narendra they could help him sell it to NASA for an astronomical price if the tests could prove it was genuine.
Virender Mohan Brar allegedly to the victim that he would immediately pay $2 million if the test proved it was genuine.
The alleged victim then agreed to pay for “anti-radiation suits” and some chemicals that the accused said were required for the testing and the fees for scientists, forking out a total of Rs. 14,300,000.
The alleged fraudsters in police custody. Source: Twitter
Police said the alleged victim because suspicious when the tests were repeatedly called off and later found out that the scientists arranged for conducting the tests were paid Rs 20,000 ($400) and that they were actually working for the accused.
"Rice Puller is a non-existent thing, but cheats take a copper plate or utensil and coat it with a liquid magnet and then fill some boiled rice with small iron wires and befool the victim by pulling the rice grain towards the magnet coated copper article," said Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police.
Virender Mohan Brar and his son Baba Brar have been arrested and police have recovered the fake anti-radiation suits appearing to resemble that of NASA scientists, chemical radiation stickers as well as the “RP” copper plate during the investigation.
