A 34-year-old businessman has filed a cheating complaint against 22 persons who convinced him to invest ₹3.5 crore in a ‘rice-puller’, supposedly a high-end machine which international agencies like NASA are interested in purchasing because of its ability to generate energy.
In reality, such a machine does not exist. But, the scam has become so widespread that it now goes by the name ‘rice pulling’ scam. It is touted as a device that can not only draw grains of rice towards itself, but also has capabilities that appeal to researchers in the field of nuclear energy and aeronautics.
In this case, the gang promised a demonstration to Syed Saleem for which they sought money to buy specially designed anti-radiation suits and kits, said the police.
Based on the complaint by Syed, the Tilaknagar police, on Tuesday, registered an FIR and are searching for the accused. The businessman told the the police that he transferred money and also made payments in cash over a period of two years. He realised that he had been cheated on October 14 when the accused disappeared.
“We have registered a case, but we think there is more to the story that what the complainant has told us,” said a senior police official.
