Kalupur wholesaler alleges ₹49,985 cheque fraud by trader

A 41-year-old wholesale school bag trader from Ahmedabad has lodged a complaint alleging that a city-based businessman cheated him of ₹49,985 by issuing a cheque that was later dishonoured due to insufficient funds.

As per the FIR registered on February 20, Chetanbhai Kanani, who runs Pol Sun Agency on Relief Road in the Kalupur area, has accused Lokesh Kumar Bhagwandas Khatrani, proprietor of Mahalaxmi Traders, of breach of trust and cheating.

New Ranip resident Kanani stated in his complaint that he has been engaged in the wholesale business of school bags for the past 15 years. He alleged that Khatrani, who is stated to be residing in Chandkheda, had initially purchased school bags in November and December 2024 and made payments in cash, thereby gaining his confidence.

On January 3, 2025, Khatrani allegedly purchased 432 small and large school bags worth ₹49,985 from Pol Sun Agency. Instead of payment, he issued a cheque dated January 16, 2025, for ₹50,000 drawn on AU Small Finance Bank.

The complainant stated that when he deposited the cheque, it was returned unpaid due to insufficient balance in the account. Despite repeated attempts to contact the accused on his mobile phone, the calls allegedly went unanswered, and the phone was switched off.

Kanani further claimed that upon making inquiries, he learnt that the accused had allegedly procured goods from other traders as well and had failed to make payments to them. When some traders visited his listed residential address, they allegedly discovered that the property had been sold and that he was no longer residing there.

Alleging that he had been deceived after being made to trust the accused through earlier cash transactions, Kanani sought legal action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Police have registered the case and initiated an investigation.