Mumbai: Mumbai Police have registered a case against five individuals for allegedly operating a fake Tata Electric Vehicle (EV) dealership scam after a complaint was filed by Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TPEML). The accused allegedly created fraudulent websites resembling Tata’s official dealership portals and deceived people into paying application fees by falsely promising authorised Tata EV dealerships. Investigators believe the network may have targeted several more victims across the country.
According to police, Keshab Kumar, Akash Bansal, Kunal Singh, Raju Manaskar, and one unidentified person have been booked under relevant provisions related to cheating and other offences. An investigation is currently underway.
The complaint was filed by Prashant Murali, Senior Manager (Legal) at TPEML. According to the company, the fraud first came to light in April 2025, when it discovered the website tataevdealership.com, which allegedly impersonated Tata’s official dealership platform and invited applications for Tata EV dealerships.
The company initially issued legal notices to the website operators and subsequently approached the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO ruled in Tata’s favour and directed that the disputed domain be transferred to the company. TPEML also coordinated with domain registrar GoDaddy to have the fraudulent website suspended.
However, investigators found that after the first website was taken down, the accused allegedly launched another portal, tataevdealership.in, once again offering fake Tata EV dealership opportunities. The company approached GoDaddy and later the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), which also ordered the transfer of the domain to Tata.
Police said the accused allegedly continued their activities by launching a third website, tatadealership.in, to advertise dealership opportunities for Tata vehicles. Investigators believe the repeated creation of new domains indicates a deliberate attempt to continue the fraudulent operation despite legal action against earlier websites.
During the company’s internal inquiry, multiple individuals reported that they had been cheated. One complainant, Mahesh Shah, alleged that he paid ₹25,000 to secure a dealership. Another victim, Gurusevak Singh, claimed he transferred ₹5.50 lakh as an application fee after being contacted by one of the accused. Police said the confirmed financial loss currently stands at approximately ₹5.75 lakh, although they suspect the actual amount could be significantly higher as additional victims are identified.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the reputation of well-known brands by creating convincing fake websites. He advised individuals to independently verify a company’s official website, email domain and contact details before applying for dealerships, franchises or investment opportunities. He cautioned that relying solely on a website’s appearance or the use of a company’s logo could expose applicants to significant financial fraud.
Mumbai Police are examining digital evidence, domain registration records, bank accounts and online payment trails linked to the alleged fraud. Investigators are also working to determine whether the fake dealership websites targeted victims in other states. Officials said further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses and additional evidence emerges.
