Police are after four Indian nationals charged with swindling Pokhara residents out of millions of rupees by setting up a fake dealership.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Khadga Bahadur Khatri said the four suspects, identified as Mithun Rawan, Rajendra Shetty, Murkhanandam Tewar and Mathu Udiyar from Tamil Nadu state of India, are on the run after collecting millions of rupees from unsuspecting customers, who had paid money in advance thinking the had landed bargain deals on electronic goods, kitchen appliances and furniture.

The quartet had rented a shutter at Srijanachowk and named the establishment, Oxygen Traders, from where they had been selling and taking orders for goods. They had also employed six workers, who are now in police detention for questioning.

The shop was just a front that the four men had created to attract customers by offering heavy discounts.

“They sold some goods for a while to create a market buzz and earn people’s trust. But their motive was to ensnare as many people  they could, take their money and run,” DSP Khatri said.

The case came to the authority’s attention when the customers contacted police after they found the shop shuttered on Monday morning.

They had reached the shop to pick their deliveries for which they had paid upfront. Some customers had paid up to Rs 500,000.

Pratikshya Shrestha said she had paid Rs 40,500 for a 43” TV set and now she regretted her decision.

“I had worked hard save that money,” she lamented. “I handed over the money to those people without a moment’s hesitation.”

Shrestha came to know about the dealership through a friend. She is believed to be among at least 1,000 people to be conned by the four Indians, who are now said to be around Rs 100 million better off and out of Pokhara.

DSP Khatri said police had earlier suspected that something was off about the four men and their business. They were detained for investigation on December 6.

“We had to freed them after three days because we were contacted by around 60 people, who claimed that they had experienced no problem while buying goods from Oxygen Traders,” said DSP Khatri. 

Police suspect that the four men will most likely try to leave the country to avoid

capture.

“Their photos have been circulated to Nepal-India border points and police has been notified about their crime,” said DSP Khatri.