Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Panaji Police have registered a case of alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and deception against a Mapusa resident following an order passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Merces, in connection with a commercial lease agreement.
According to police, Crime No. 130/2026 was registered on August 4 under Sections 406, 415 and 420 of the IPC against Eric Menezes, a resident of Altinho, Mapusa.
The complaint was filed by Muzammil Patel, a partner in Acies Consulting LLP, Mumbai. Patel alleged that Menezes had entered into a lease agreement dated March 10, 2022, for commercial premises at CMM Building, Rua de Ourem, Panaji, for a period of 60 months, from February 1, 2022, to January 31, 2027.
The complainant alleged that an amount of ₹36,46,455 was paid under the agreement after the accused represented that he was the absolute owner of the property and that it was free from encumbrances or third-party rights.
However, it was later discovered that the premises had already been offered as collateral security against a loan of ₹21.47 crore, allegedly without disclosing this fact to the complainant. The complainant has alleged that this amounted to cheating and caused a financial loss of ₹36.46 lakh.
The case was registered pursuant to the JMFC Court’s order in CRMA/735/2023/C. Further investigation is being carried out by PSI Rohan Madgaonkar of Panaji Police Station.
