An NRI from Lunawada in Mahisagar district was allegedly defrauded of ₹1.23 crore by a Swaminarayan sect devotee from Vidyanagar, who lured him with an attractive scheme promising to double his money in a short period. 

The NRI, a Canadian citizen, was reportedly threatened with death, after which he filed a complaint at the Vidyanagar police station.  

Kalpeshkumar Patel (47), originally from Dalukhadiya in Lunawada, Mahisagar, and a current resident of Mississauga runs an educational institute in Canada. 

In 2022, he visited Haridham at Sokhda in Vadodara, where he met Milan Kumar, also known as Nishchint Patel, a resident of Tulsi Elegance, Vidyanagar.  

During their meeting, Milan told Kalpesh that he had served as a dedicated volunteer for 18 years under Hariprasad Swami of the Swaminarayan sect. 

He also claimed to be involved in real estate, cosmetic products, and a visa  consultancy named ‘Prabodham International’ at Neptune Square near the Sardar Patel Statue on Railway Station Road, Vidyanagar. 

Milan convinced Kalpesh that he had various investment schemes that could double money in a short time. Trusting him, Kalpesh handed over ₹23 lakh in cash.  

In return, Milan assured Kalpesh that he would provide security by offering property documents for two flats—one in his mother Jaya Patel’s name at Aditya Harmony Apartments, Karamsad, and another owned by his acquaintance Amita Desai. 

He also took photographs of four blank cheques from Kalpesh. Milan later handed over the property documents, stating that once he generated profits from the investment, the documents could be cancelled.  

Later, Milan persuaded Kalpesh to invest ₹1 crore, promising that the principal amount would be returned within a year, and an additional ₹1 crore in profit would be earned within 12 to 18 months. Since Milan was a devotee of the Swaminarayan sect, Kalpesh trusted him and transferred a total of ₹1,30,72,500 through multiple transactions, as mentioned in the FIR.  

When the agreed-upon period ended, Kalpesh demanded his money back. Milan returned ₹7.5 lakh in cash but made excuses, claiming the remaining amount was still invested in the scheme. 

When Kalpesh visited Vidyanagar to demand his money, Milan allegedly threatened him, saying that the property documents he provided mentioned Kalpesh’s blank cheques, and since the property owners had not received payment yet, a false case could be filed against him. Milan also allegedly threatened to kill Kalpesh if he pursued the matter further.  

In January 2024, Milan signed an agreement promising to return the money by May 23, 2024. However, he failed to do so, leading Kalpesh Patel to file a complaint at the Vidyanagar police station against Milan for defrauding him of ₹1.23 crore.  

However, Milan and his family members, including his mother Jaya and brother Manish, along with Amita Desai, filed civil cases against the NRI in Anand Civil Court.  

On January 7, 2025, at Atmiya Vidhya Dham Mandir in Bakrol, Kalpesh met Milan, who verbally abused him and arrogantly stated that neither the promised profit nor even the principal investment would be returned.

During the meeting, Milan used abusive language and threatened, saying, “Do whatever you can; forget about profit, you won’t even get back any of your invested money. I have very high-level political connections.”

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