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'Conman' Travel Agent Arrested

R S Shankar in New Jersey

When Deepak L Chatpar was given a probationary sentence seven months ago, he promised to mend his ways and return money to those who purchased from him air tickets which proved to be useless.

Several Indian Americans including students and professionals have told the police that he exploited them. "He is a master conman," charged one student. "He does not feel bad even for a second about taking you for a ride."

Chatpar who operated a travel agency in Montclair, an affluent New Jersey city, kept part of his promise, says Montclair detective Robert Harris. He returned money to some people, but allegedly took more people for a ride.

When the 32-year-old Chatpar was arrested on Wednesday at his plush home and charged with theft by deception and forgery, the judge demanded that he post a hefty bond of $ 150,000. Chatpar has not come up with the money, and may have to spend a few days in a jail before his family and friends arrange for it.

''Between the first and the second time, he probably took money from a couple hundred people," Harris said. Chatpar, who had several names, including Marco Polo, for his travel business, advertised extensively over the Internet, offering low fares to many destinations in India and the rest of the subcontinent.

Chatpar certainly "has a problem," Harris said.

"With some people he was buying the tickets, or giving them their money back so they would not file a complaint. But he was taking from others." If he is convicted, he faces a prison sentence of five years or more, and could be deported to India.

P Suratia, 25, a recent graduate and newly wed, borrowed $ 2,000 from a relative to go to India for a family emergency. She sent money to Chatpar and when she did not hear from him and her phone calls to his office went unanswered, she contacted the police.

Investigators say Chatpar cheated people who were starting in life, and had to wait till the last moment to purchase a ticket. One of the losers is a doctor who lost about $ 4,500 to Chatpar. Since the doctor was short of money, he canceled his trip to India.

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