A 73-year-old woman on Saturday appealed to City Police Commissioner A K Khan to help recover her hard-earned money which was cheated from her by the president of a social service organization.
According to a complaint lodged by Jaleelunnisa Begum, one Sabiha Siddiqi, president of Bint-e-Haram, a Muslim welfare organization, cheated her in collusion with one self-styled Mufti.
Stating that she was cheated of Rs. 2.34 lakh she had saved to perform the Haj, Jaleelunnisa Begum alleged that Sabiha Siddiqis had colluded with one Jameel Saheb, also known as 'Mufti' to deprive her of the money.
Jaleelunnisa Begum alleged that Sabiha Siddiqi, a well-known face among the Muslim community in her capacity as president of a voluntary organisation 'Bint-e- Haram' with its office inside the historic Mecca Masjid earned her confidence through regular interactions by conducting Islamic lectures.
Jaleelunnisa Begum stated that Sabiha Siddiqi knew that she had a deep yearning to perform the Haj, and taking advantage of the fact that she was not selected by the draw of lots conducted by the Haj committee, she coerced her to opt for private tour operators to fulfill her dream. Sabiha Siddiqi is alleged to have told Mrs Jaleelunnisa Begum that there were 10 seats in the VIP quota from Mumbai and she had to go to Pune, meet Mufti Jameel Ahmed and he would ensure that she could perform the Haj this year.
Believing in Sabiha Siddiqi's words, Jaleelunnisa Begum travelled to Pune and handed over her savings to Mufti Jameel Ahmed.
Jameel Ahmed vanished with the money from a bank in Pune, and Jaleelunnisa Begum was left high and dry.
When Jaleelunnisa Begum accosted Sabiha Siddiqi in Hyderabad, she washed her hands off the whole issue and said that she was cheated by someone posing as the Mufti.
Jaleelunnisa Begum claims that she made sure that the person she contacted before and after the vanishing act was indeed the person she was told to contact, through various means, including the phone number given by Sabiha Siddiqi as belonging to the Mufti.
The old woman urged Commissioner A K Khan to act against Sabiha Siddiqi, who has good rapport with people in high places. She expressed her fear that Sabiha Siddiqi would use her clout and get away scot-free, despite cheating her.