Ahmedabad man alleges ₹17.25 lakh visa fraud; crime branch registers case

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust after a city resident alleged that he was duped of ₹17.25 lakh on the promise of securing a European and later a UK work visa.

The complaint was filed by Manish Thakar (42), a resident of Chandkheda, who works as an HR manager at a private hospital in Navrangpura. According to the first information report (FIR), Thakar was introduced in 2022 to Priyank Trivedi, who operated from an office in the Titanium City Centre and claimed to run an overseas placement consultancy.

Trivedi allegedly told the complainant that a European work visa could be arranged for ₹6.65 lakh. Acting on this assurance, Thakar transferred ₹65,000 to Trivedi’s account in June and July 2022. He was later introduced to Trivedi’s alleged business partner, Onil Malani, and was asked to route further payments through Malani.

Police said that over the next several months, Thakar transferred multiple amounts to Malani’s firm account and later to the bank accounts of Malani’s mother and wife, on Malani’s instructions. The complainant alleged that he was shown an offer letter and later assured that the process had progressed.

When the European visa did not materialise, Malani allegedly proposed switching to a UK work visa, claiming that it would cost ₹26 lakh but that earlier payments would be adjusted. Trusting these assurances, Thakar said he paid a total of ₹26 lakh between February 2023 and March 2024, including ₹10.65 lakh in cash and the remaining amount through bank transfers.

Malani later claimed that UK visa rules had changed and promised to refund the money in instalments. Between July 2024 and March 2025, ₹8.75 lakh was allegedly returned. However, the remaining ₹17.25 lakh was not paid back. The complainant further alleged that the cheques issued towards repayment bounced and that Malani later became untraceable.

The FIR states that neither a European nor a UK work visa was ever issued to the complainant, despite repeated assurances and documents shared over WhatsApp, including an alleged sponsorship letter and VFS appointment details.

Based on the complaint, the Crime Branch has registered a case against Priyank Trivedi and Onil Malani for cheating and breach of trust under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said bank transactions, affidavits, electronic communication and the role of other individuals named in the complaint are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

Further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe, officials added.