Two Held in Ahmedabad For ₹75 Lakh Angadia Fraud Using Fake Identity Of ‘Bullion King Of India’

The Ahmedabad City Police’s Zone-3 Local Crime Branch (LCB) has arrested two men for allegedly defrauding a Hyderabad-based businessman of ₹75 lakh by impersonating bullion trader Prithviraj Kothari and using an Angadia firm in Kalupur to collect the cash.

Accused Allegedly Posed As Bullion Trader

The arrested accused have been identified as Modsing alias Modh Singh alias Vikramsingh Rajpurohit, 48, of Rajasthan, and Bharatgiri Khemgiri Goswami, 32, of Deesa in Banaskantha.

According to police, the complainant, Rohitkumar Narendrakumar Jain, was contacted by phone on July 8. One of the accused allegedly introduced himself as Prithviraj Kothari and asked Jain to send ₹75 lakh from Hyderabad to Ahmedabad through an Angadia firm.

The accused allegedly provided the name and mobile number of a person identified as Ashok Jain to make the transaction appear genuine.

₹75 Lakh Sent Through Kalupur Angadia Firm

The following day, another associate allegedly introduced himself as “Babubhai” and told Jain that he would travel to Ahmedabad to collect the consignment.

Acting on the instructions, the complainant sent ₹75 lakh through R Ganesh Angadia in Kalupur.

Police said “Babubhai” subsequently collected the cash from the Angadia firm. The accused allegedly switched off their mobile phones after receiving the money and disappeared.

₹25 Lakh Cash Recovered

The investigation was launched after senior police officers directed teams to trace those involved in the alleged fraud.

A Zone-3 LCB team received information about the suspected involvement of the two accused while conducting checks near the Kalupur Post Office area.

Police apprehended Rajpurohit and Goswami on August 12 and recovered ₹25 lakh in cash, along with five mobile phones. The total value of the seized property was estimated at ₹25.52 lakh.

CCTV footage from the area also helped investigators establish the movements of the suspects, police said.

Police Allege Key Role In Impersonation

According to investigators, Rajpurohit allegedly played a key role by using Kothari’s identity to gain the complainant’s confidence.

He allegedly arranged for the money to be transferred from Hyderabad to Kalupur and used the identities of “Ashok Jain” and “Babubhai” as part of the alleged plan.

Police said Rajpurohit allegedly instructed Goswami to collect the cash, with Goswami allegedly posing as “Babubhai” at the Angadia firm.

Accused Has Over 20 Cases, Police Say

Police said Rajpurohit has an extensive criminal history, with more than 20 cases registered against him in Gujarat and other states.

The cases include allegations of theft, house-breaking, cheating, criminal breach of trust and impersonation. Police records cited in the investigation include cases registered in Ahmedabad and elsewhere between 2006 and 2018.

Police also said six cases were registered against him in Maharashtra and two in Rajasthan.

Search On For Remaining ₹50 Lakh

The two accused were detained on August 12 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is under way.

Police are attempting to identify other people allegedly involved in the operation and trace the remaining ₹50 lakh.

Investigators are also examining the seized mobile phones and communication records to determine how the identities allegedly used in the fraud were created and whether the accused had targeted other Angadia firms or businessmen using a similar modus operandi.