Odhav Businessman Loses ₹80 Lakh To ‘US Visa’ Scam, Kalol Agents Among Six Booked
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A 52-year-old businessman from Odhav was allegedly cheated of ₹80 lakh by a gang that promised to send his son and daughter-in-law to the US on e-business visas within four days.
The accused allegedly showed the businessman fake e-visas and flight tickets and instructed him to deposit the money with an Angadia firm in Bapunagar. The cash was later withdrawn from branches in Rajkot and Surat before the accused allegedly went absconding.
The Economic Offences Wing of CID Crime has registered a case against six people, including two agents from Kalol and a person allegedly operating an Instagram account, and launched an investigation.
Businessman Approached Agents For US Travel
The complainant, Jitendrabhai Mangalbhai Patel, a resident of Nana Chiloda, runs Zhinkal Die Casting in Odhav. He wanted to send his son Jil and daughter-in-law Kanchanben to the US and approached contacts through his brother-in-law.
A meeting was subsequently arranged near the Memco Omnagar railway crossing, where Jitendrabhai met Sukhbirsingh Bajwa, who allegedly operated an Instagram account, along with his associates.
During the meeting, Shiven Rakeshkumar Barot and Jay Harshadbhai Barot, both from Kalol, allegedly assured him that they could arrange e-business visas and send the couple to the US within four days.
They reportedly quoted a total cost of ₹1.15 crore and took the original passports of Jil and Kanchanben.
₹80 Lakh Deposited Through Bapunagar Angadia
The accused allegedly instructed Jitendrabhai to deposit the money with V. Patel Angadia in Bapunagar for visa processing.
The businessman arranged the funds through relatives and deposited ₹80 lakh over two days.
- November 6, 2023: ₹55 lakh
- November 7, 2023: ₹25 lakh
The deposits were reportedly made using token numbers based on ₹10 currency notes.
Fake E-Visas Sent On WhatsApp
The accused later allegedly sent e-visas in PDF format through WhatsApp.
However, when Jitendrabhai attempted to verify the documents online, he allegedly discovered that they were fake. The mobile number and email address associated with the purported visas reportedly belonged to another person.
The businessman also found that the flight tickets shown to him appeared only within the WhatsApp application.
When he confronted the accused and demanded his money back, they allegedly continued making promises but did not return the funds.
₹55 Lakh Withdrawn In Rajkot, ₹25 Lakh In Surat
Further inquiries into the money trail revealed that the cash deposited at the Bapunagar Angadia firm had allegedly been collected by unidentified individuals.
According to the complaint, an unidentified person withdrew ₹55 lakh in the name of Jay Barot from the Raiya Road branch in Rajkot.
Another unidentified person allegedly withdrew the remaining ₹25 lakh from the Sarthana branch in Surat.
After realising that he had been cheated, Jitendrabhai approached the CID Crime's Economic Offences Wing.
CID Crime Probes Six Accused
The Economic Offences Wing has registered a case against six accused, including the two Kalol-based agents, and initiated an investigation.
Police are examining the alleged role of the accused, the Instagram account, the Angadia transactions, withdrawal records and the movement of the ₹80 lakh to establish the identities and whereabouts of all those involved.
