A man posing as a doctor allegedly duped a jeweller in Maharashtra's Thane district of over Rs 1 lakh by taking some gold and silver items from his shop but escaping without making the payment, police said on October 1.

The accused, who introduced himself as Kavish Agrawal (40), went to the jeweller's shop in Bhayander township on September 29, claiming he was opening a new hospital nearby for which he wanted to purchase some precious metal items, an official at Navghar police station said. He first placed an order of some small silver idols of Lord Ganesh and later selected some more gold and silver items collectively worth Rs 1.15 lakh.

He kept all the precious items in his car and asked the jeweller to send a person along with him to collect the payment since he was not carrying so much cash, he said. The jeweller then sent his brother with the accused. However, after driving some distance, the accused allegedly asked the jeweller's brother to wait outside the car on the road till he gets the money and fled, he said.

When he did not return, the jeweller and his brother realised they were duped. The jeweller later lodged a case with Navghar police under Indian Penal Code Sections 417 and 420 (cheating), the official said, adding that search was on for the accused.