‘Will Supply ₹5, ₹10 Coins’: Ahmedabad Man Cheats 7 Food Traders Of Over ₹4.60 Lakh, Arrested By Police

A 33-year-old man allegedly cheated seven small traders in Ahmedabad of more than ₹4.60 lakh by promising to supply large quantities of ₹5 and ₹10 coins for their daily cash transactions.

Ramol police arrested the accused, identified as Valabhai alias Viraj Jaymalbhai Rabari, from near Tanman Char Rasta in Vastral following a tip-off.

Traders Targeted Over Two Years

According to police, Rabari, originally from Kuvar village in Patan district’s Shankheshwar taluka, had no regular work and allegedly began targeting restaurants, food stalls, farsan shops and other small businesses.

He would approach traders and offer to arrange large quantities of ₹5 and ₹10 coins, knowing that such businesses often need small denominations for daily cash transactions.

After gaining their trust, he would collect amounts ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹1 lakh, promising to return with the coins. Police said he would then disappear without supplying the promised change.

Seven Traders Allegedly Duped

The investigation has so far linked Rabari to seven alleged cheating cases in Nikol and Odhav over the past two years.

Police said he allegedly took ₹50,000 from the owner of Gayatri Ganthiya in Nikol two years ago and ₹20,000 from the operator of an Amul parlour near Sadguru Garden in Nikol a year ago. Around five months ago, he allegedly collected ₹16,000 from a money transfer shop near Manmohan Char Rasta in Odhav.

Four months ago, the owner of Rajvi Dining Hall near Kathwada in Nikol allegedly handed him ₹1 lakh.

Two months ago, Rabari allegedly took ₹1 lakh each from Jai Bhavani Caterers on Viratnagar Road and Akshay Gruh Udyog near Navrang Circle in Odhav.

He allegedly collected another ₹50,000 from Patel Farsan near Kanba Hospital in Nikol.

Exploited Demand For Small Coins

Police said Rabari deliberately selected areas with a high concentration of restaurants, hotels, food stalls and farsan shops.

His alleged modus operandi was to exploit traders’ regular need for small-denomination coins. He reportedly claimed that he could arrange large quantities of coins through acquaintances, banks or other traders.

After receiving the money, he allegedly failed to deliver the coins and fled with the cash. Ramol police are now investigating whether more traders were targeted in a similar manner.