MAPUSA
A British national has allegedly been cheated of around Rs 19.5 lakh in a share deal after a woman allegedly induced her to pay for a 10 per cent stake in a private company but failed to transfer the shares or return the money.
Saligao Police have registered a case against Svetlana Kurochkina, a resident of Agarwada, Pernem, following a complaint filed by Christine Ann Joyce, a British national residing at Sangolda.
According to the complaint, between May 6 and October 23, 2025, Kurochkina allegedly represented herself as a shareholder of Up Beauty Date Leisure Private Limited and induced Joyce to make payments towards the purchase of 10 per cent shares held by her in the company.
Joyce allegedly transferred around Rs 19.5 lakh on various occasions to Kurochkina's personal bank account towards the proposed share purchase.
However, despite receiving the money, Kurochkina allegedly neither transferred the promised shares to Joyce nor refunded the amount, prompting the British national to approach the police.
Saligao Police registered the offence on September 30 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have issued a notice to the accused under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
