Ahmedabad car rental operator duped of ₹17 lakh, acquaintance rents, sells Innova in Rajasthan

The Chandkheda police have registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust against a Vadodara-based man who allegedly rented an Innova Crysta from a city travel agency under the pretext of friendship and later sold it off in Rajasthan, causing a loss of ₹17 lakh to the car’s owner.

According to the FIR filed by Sanjeeb Dilipkumar Sharma, a resident of Chandkheda and owner of Sharma Travels,  he runs a car rental business and owns a Toyota Innova Crysta  purchased in his name in 2022.

Sanjeeb stated that for the past two months, a man identified as Asif Kalubhai Garasia, a resident of Bhilapura village in Vadodara, had rented cars from his agency two or three times, during which they became acquainted.

“On October 6, Asif called saying he needed a car for a one-day local trip for his customer. Sanjeeb told him the rent would be ₹6,000 per day and an additional ₹3,000 as a deposit, along with copies of his driving licence and Aadhaar card,” as per the compaint.

Trusting him, Sanjeeb sent his Innova Crysta along with a part-time driver, to Namaste Circle, where Asif handed over ₹6,000 in cash. However, the next morning, Sanjeeb checked the car’s GPS and found it had reached Barmer, Rajasthan. When he called Asif, he claimed he had travelled there due to a medical emergency involving a relative.

On October 8, Sanjeeb again tracked the vehicle and found it still in Barmer. This time, Asif’s phone was switched off. “That’s when I realised he had sold my car to someone without my knowledge,” Sanjeeb stated.

Police said the vehicle, valued at approximately ₹17 lakh, had been fraudulently taken and sold. Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered against Asif Garasia for cheating and criminal breach of trust under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The case is being investigated by the Chandkheda police official. Officers are coordinating with Rajasthan police to trace the vehicle’s location and identify the buyer to whom the car was allegedly sold.

A senior police official said, “The accused misused the trust developed over prior business dealings. Preliminary technical surveillance has confirmed the car’s last known location in Barmer. Efforts are underway to recover the vehicle and arrest the accused.”