"The convicts were identified as Vipin Sharma, Sachin Sharma, Honey Shama, Harshad Alam, Aman Alam and Bhupender Singh. They were involved in cheating several job seekers aspiring to go abroad and were fleeced to the tune of crores of rupees," said P.S. Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).
It is the first major conviction under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) since its invocation in Delhi, added Kushwah.
Vipin Sharma was the kingpin of cheating syndicate along with wife Honey Sharma. The two along with Vipin's brother Sachin were arrested by the Special Cell in 2008 after a case was registered against them at Lajpat Nagar police station.
During investigation, a large number of passports with work visas of New Zealand and fake documents such as PAN cards, debit cards, credit cards, shopping cards and mobile phones and SIM cards were recovered by the Delhi police.
It was found that the gang was involved in over thirty cases of cheating between 2000 and 2009.
Vipin Sharma was sentenced for 12 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 55 lakhs while the others were convicted for 10 years with a fine of Rs 14 lakh.
The court also ordered compensation to the victims (total 10) by way of payment of Rs 33.80 lakhs by the members of the crime syndicate out of the fine imposed on them.
MCOCA was initially enacted by the Maharastra government in the year 1999 to contain underworld dons. The stringent law was adopted in Delhi in the year 2002.
( With inputs from IANS )