India, Dec. 17 -- A Santacruz-based businessman has alleged that he was duped of Rs.74 lakh by a man claiming himself as the personal assistant (PA) of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and promising to help settle his pending cases in a sessions court.

According to the police, the complainant, Alpesh Ratilal Patel, a resident of Krishnakunj Building on Main Avenue Road in Santacruz West, has 14 civil cases pending against one Datish Sharma in the Dindoshi sessions court. In February 2025, Patel met the accused, Vaibhav Thakkar, through a distant relative. Thakkar, introducing himself as the chief minister's PA and showing an identity card to support his claim, said he had strong connections in the sessions court that could he...