MUMBAI, 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 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 Santacruz West, has 14 civil cases pending 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 connections in the sessions court that could help resolve cases swiftly. "Thakkar reportedly travelled in a Fortuner SUV fitted with a yellow beacon light and accompanied by private bodyguards resembling police personnel, seeing which Patel trusted him," said a police officer. Thakkar demanded Rs.74 lakh to "settle" four of the pending cases quickly, and when Patel refused to meet his monetary demands, Thakkar threatened him that adverse judgments would be ensured in his cases. Patel told the police that he paid the money by mortgaging all the jewellery his family owned. After seeing media reports that Thakkar had cheated someone in South Mumbai, Patel finally approached the police on December 11. Police records also indicate that Thakkar was previously booked by LT Marg police in a cheating case....