Ahmedabad visa consultancy firm booked for alleged ₹4.5 lakh fraud

The Navrangpura police have registered a cheating and breach of trust case against three persons associated with a city-based visa consultancy firm after a man alleged that they collected ₹5 lakh on the promise of securing a European work permit visa for his brother but failed to deliver and refunded only a fraction of the amount.

The accused have been identified as Akhil Subhash Chatur, Nitaben Subhash Chatur and Umangiben Ashwinbhai Modi. Akhil and Nitaben are directors of DAA Business Consultant Services Pvt Ltd, which operates from an office near Stadium Circle on C.G. Road, while all three accused are residents in Vastrapur.

Mehulkumar Jayantilal Vaddoriya, a resident of Nikol, who alleged that he approached the consultancy in December 2024 after receiving a reference from a friend. He sought assistance in obtaining a work permit visa for his brother, Kaushik Vaddoriya, to Luxembourg.

The consultancy representatives assured him that the visa process would be completed within six months and initially demanded a token payment. The complainant stated that he transferred ₹1 lakh to the company's bank account in instalments as part of the agreed payment structure.

In April 2025, the accused allegedly advised the complainant to switch the proposed destination from Luxembourg to Finland, claiming that a Finnish work permit visa could be secured within 60 days. The complainant alleged that the consultancy arranged police clearance certificates, medical examinations and other documentation while continuing to seek additional payments.

Investigators said the complainant claimed to have paid a further ₹1 lakh in cash after being informed that an offer letter had been received. Subsequently, he alleged that the accused sent photographs purportedly showing a Temporary Resident Card (TRC) and assured him that travel arrangements would soon be finalised.

Believing the assurances, the complainant transferred another ₹3 lakh in August 2025 after being told that airline tickets and visa documentation were ready.

However, despite repeated follow-ups, neither the visa nor the travel arrangements materialised. The complainant alleged that when he demanded a refund, the accused initially avoided repayment. After he threatened legal action, ₹50,000 was allegedly transferred back to his account in March 2026. He further claimed that the accused signed an agreement promising to return the remaining amount within a month but subsequently failed to honour the commitment.

The complainant has alleged that after collecting a total of ₹5 lakh, the accused refunded only ₹50,000, leaving an outstanding amount of ₹4.5 lakh.

Navrangpura police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the alleged fraud. Police officials said documentary evidence, including bank transaction records, agreements and correspondence related to the visa process, would form part of the investigation.