Accused in ₹90 lakh fraud case arrested from Vadodara after 4 years on the run

A man accused of duping a resident of Ahmedabad’s Satellite area of ₹90 lakh by claiming to perform rituals and arrange cheap land in Kutch has been arrested by Warsiya police in Vadodara after evading authorities for four years.

The accused, identified as Hitesh alias Ghanshyam Hariomprasad Yagnik of Halvad, had promised the victim, Jigneshbhai Mohrowala, that his “bad times” could be resolved through religious rituals and mantra chanting. He further lured him with the claim that he could arrange land in Kutch at a low price, which could later be sold to a company for crores, bringing immense profit.

Believing the story, the victim paid ₹17 lakh in cash and deposited ₹63 lakh in a bank account for the accused. Yagnik also took gold jewellery under the pretext of “purification.” However, after receiving the money and valuables, the accused vacated his residence and went missing.

The case was registered at Satellite police station in 2021, but Yagnik remained absconding. Acting on a tip-off that he was performing rituals at a temple in Vijay Nagar, Vadodara, Warsiya police set up a watch and nabbed him. He has now been handed over to Satellite police, who will seek his remand.

Satellite Police Inspector Chaudhary confirmed the ₹90 lakh fraud case and said the accused will be produced in court tomorrow. 

Local sources in Vadodara allege that Yagnik may have cheated several others in the city using similar tactics, taking cash and jewellery in the name of religious rituals. Police have not received any local complaints yet, but further investigation could reveal more victims.