The FIR lodged by the purchase officer of IUCAA, K Chandran Nair, accused the California based Ms Circle Freight, Ms Parari Systems and Mumbai based Ms Sea and Moorhead Limited from Mumbai of cheating IUCCA to the tune of over Rs 5.16 lakh in a deal of computer and computer spare parts.

According to the FIR, the IUCAA had ordered a laptop and some computer spare parts from Ms Parari Systems through Sea and Moorhead Limited, a Mumbai based company which operates as the agent of the USA based computer company.

IUCAA had paid an amount of Rs 5,16,248 to the companies to cover the cost of the computer and spare parts as well as the freight fare in 1995, police said.

The world renowned institution was delivered some sealed boxes at its Pune office in 1996. However, the boxes were found to be empty when opened by the IUCAA officials in Pune, they added.

Queries by IUCAA later revealed that the computer and spare parts were removed and the boxes were sealed again while the cargo was being brought from Houston to New York, according to the police.

The IUCAA officials decided to lodge the FIR when all the three companies refused to compensate for the stolen computer and computer spare parts, they said.