Ahmedabad trader duped of ₹48.64 lakh in alleged China import scam, Surat man booked

Bapunagar police register cheating case after trader alleges accused lured him with online advertisement promising low-cost imports from China but neither delivered the goods nor refunded the money.

A 33-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad has alleged that he and his friend were cheated of ₹48.64 lakh by a Surat-based man who allegedly lured them with an online advertisement promising to import raw materials from China at highly competitive prices.

The Bapunagar Police have registered a case of cheating against the accused, identified as Krinal Bhojak, a resident of Adajan in Surat, following a complaint filed by the trader.

Ravi Dobariya, originally from Amreli and currently residing in Nikol, runs a business manufacturing machine structures and steel spare parts.

Police said that around seven to eight months ago, Dobariya came across an online advertisement claiming that products of any kind could be directly imported from China at economical rates. Interested in procuring raw materials for his business, he contacted the number mentioned in the advertisement and got in touch with Bhojak.

During their discussions, the complainant informed the accused that he required stainless steel coils and sheet metal for his business. The accused allegedly assured him that the material could be imported from China at significantly lower prices, convincing him to place an order.

The complainant later informed one of his business associates about the offer, following which both decided to source the material through the accused. Police said meetings were held between the parties, after which it was agreed that raw materials worth ₹48.64 lakh would be imported from China.

The complainant alleged that he and his friend paid the accused the entire amount in instalments during October 2025.

However, despite the passage of nearly a year, the accused allegedly neither supplied the promised material nor refunded the money. After repeated attempts to recover the amount failed, the complainant approached the police.

Based on the complaint, the Bapunagar Police have registered a case of cheating against the Surat-based accused and initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud.