Chandigarh, April 5: A 34-year-old nurse from Mohali lost ₹1.42 lakh to a man who allegedly promised her a job in Qatar but failed to deliver after taking the money.
The complainant, Shelja Walia, a resident of Shivalik Vihar, Nayagaon, approached Sector 17 police in Chandigarh, alleging that she had been cheated by one Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, who she said she met through a mutual acquaintance named Zahida.
According to her police complaint, Sameer introduced himself as someone who could arrange overseas employment, claiming to operate from Jammu, Kerala, and Panipat. Shelja met him in Chandigarh’s Sector 17, where he offered her a job opportunity in Qatar for a total cost of ₹2 lakh, covering visa, medical tests, insurance, and flight tickets.
Following his instructions on WhatsApp, she transferred ₹92,290 to a Punjab National Bank account held by Sameer’s father, Abdul Rashid, on May 29, 2024. Another ₹50,000 was sent on June 3, raising the total to ₹1,42,290.
Shelja said Sameer began avoiding her calls and messages after the payment. “He kept delaying things, giving one excuse after another,” she told police. “Later, he started sending personal messages and said I wouldn’t get my money back. He even claimed his father, a police officer in Jammu, had connections that would shield them.”
She also accused Sameer—currently in Qatar—and his family of mentally harassing her.
Police said they verified the payment records and details of communication. “Following the inquiry, a case under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC was filed against Sameer Ahmad Sheikh and Abdul Rashid,” an officer from Sector 17 police station confirmed. The case was officially registered on April 4.
