Ahmedabad: A man accused of collecting more than Rs 3.18 crore by falsely claiming he could use his high-level contacts in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to secure the release of Rs 11.10 crore seized during an ED raid has been arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the Crime Branch, the case stems from an ED raid conducted on December 6, 2024, at the angadia firm “Vishnubhai Kantilal Company”, during which officials seized Rs 11.10 crore in cash, four mobile phones and a digital video recorder (DVR).
A Crime Branch official told IANS that after news of the raid became public, the accused, Vijaykumar Patel alias Vijay Mukhi, approached the firm’s owners and claimed to have strong connections within the ED and the CBI.
“Believing his assurances that he could secure the release of the seized funds and help them in the case, the firm’s owners and company members allegedly handed him Rs 3,18,65,900 in separate instalments,” the official said.
They alleged that Vijaykumar, along with other co-accused, neither arranged for the release of the money nor returned the amount despite repeated demands from the complainant after six to eight months had passed.
Investigators said he continued to assure the complainant that the work would be completed but failed to provide any satisfactory response.
A case has been registered against five accused at DCB Police Station, Part “A”, under Sections 316(2), 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
“Vijay alias Mukhi has been arrested and produced before a court, which granted police six days’ remand. Further investigation, including examination of his mobile phone, is continuing,” the official confirmed to IANS.
Investigators further alleged that Vijaykumar executed a notarised agreement in the name of one of his associates for Rs 13.20 crore in an attempt to establish ownership of the cash seized by the ED and facilitate its release.
Police identified the accused as a native of Kukarwada in Mehsana district who currently has residential addresses in Kadi and Ahmedabad’s Chandlodia area.
The Crime Branch said he lived in Leicester, United Kingdom, between 2010 and 2018 before travelling to Vanuatu in 2021, where he obtained citizenship and resided in the capital, Port Vila.
He later returned to India in 2022 and has been residing in the country as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.
The complainant, Vishnubhai Kantilal Company, operates from Suvarna Kala Complex on C.G. Road in Ahmedabad.
According to the Crime Branch official, the accused was from a neighbouring village and became acquainted with company personnel before approaching them after learning about the ED raid.
“The accused has a modus operandi of collecting money from people by claiming to have influential contacts in major government agencies and promising to get their work done,” the official claimed.
The Crime Branch further alleged that the accused introduced himself as a person with access to senior agencies in order to lure victims.
Police also said Vijaykumar has previous criminal cases registered at Kadi, Santhal and Lucknow police stations involving allegations including cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and offences under the Information Technology Act.
“He had also spent around two to three months in jail in connection with an alleged Rs 120 crore cheating case in Lucknow,” the official added.
Apart from Vijaykumar, police said three other accused identified as Darshan Bhai, Sudhanshu Jha and another individual are also part of the case.
Investigators suspect the group may have cheated other victims using a similar method.
The Crime Branch has appealed to anyone who believes they may have been similarly defrauded by the accused or his associates to come forward and contact investigating officers.
(IANS)
