The Thane Police on Tuesday issued lookout circulars against the owners and manager of Goodwin Group, who were booked for alleged fraud last week. Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
On Saturday, the Dombivli police booked the three people after 35 customers of the jewellery store chain approached them alleging that the accused had fled with the money they had invested in fixed deposit or savings schemes.
As per the Goodwin Group’s website, the company is an ISO 9001-2008 certified private limited company performing in jewellery, security systems, developers, and charity activities founded by A. G. Mohanan in 1995, and has been run by his two sons for 25 years.
Senior police inspector S.P. Aaher, Dombivali police station, said by Tuesday, the number of complainants had gone up to 69 and the value of the money allegedly swindled by the accused is estimated at ₹3.87 crore.
“We have issued lookout circulars against A.M Sudheer Kumar, the full-time director in Goodwin Group, A.M Sunil Kumar, managing director, and store manager Manish Kundi. The case has been transferred to the EOW,” Mr. Aaher said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Jadhav, (EOW and Cyber), Thane Police, said the transfer is still under way, and that investigations would be initiated as soon as the paperwork was done. The accused have been booked for cheating and criminal breach of trust under the Indian Penal Code.
On Monday, scores of investors who had either deposited gold or invested money in the fixed deposit or savings schemes proposed by Goodwin Group held a protest in front of the Thane outlet of the chain, which has been closed for four days. The investors fear that the owners have fled with their money as all the 12 branches, including those in Kerala and Maharashtra, have been shut during the time the owners promised returns on their schemes.
Meanwhile, the owners on Monday released a video, a week after their disappearance, in which they are seen assuring the investors that their money will be returned and that they have not run away with their money. They clarified that they are facing some financial difficulties and are trying their best to return the money; they urged the customers to have faith in them and insisted the investors do not report them to the police as they will be unable to raise the funds if they are arrested.
Police officials said the video is being examined.
