In a significant development in one of Ahmedabad's largest financial fraud cases, Nirav Dave, the alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated fake tender scam exceeding Rs 41 crore, voluntarily surrendered to Infocity police on Wednesday morning. The accused, whose father served as a retired deputy secretary, stands accused of defrauding multiple businessmen using counterfeit government tender documents.
The Surrender and Police Action
According to Infocity police inspector Virendra Kher, Dave walked into the police station around 10 am following the rejection of his anticipatory bail application. "We had issued notices and frozen four bank accounts linked to him and his wife. After his anticipatory bail was rejected, he surrendered today," Kher confirmed. The police investigation has gained momentum with more victims coming forward to provide statements.
Authorities had previously taken preventive measures by freezing four bank accounts connected to Dave and his wife, Mira. The police action came after multiple complaints emerged from businessmen who had fallen victim to the elaborate scam.
Modus Operandi and Scale of Fraud
Investigators revealed that Dave operated two offices in Infocity and Kudasan under the banner of Om Enterprise along with his wife. The couple allegedly lured investors with promises of high returns through government contracts that never existed.
The scam involved fabricated documents showing fake approvals for tourism and civic projects across multiple cities including Vadnagar, Patan, Dwarka, Surat, and Amreli. The counterfeit documents purported to be from legitimate government bodies such as Gujarat Tourism and Surat Municipal Corporation.
In one particularly notable case, Dave allegedly cheated a former telecom executive of Rs 72.91 lakh by claiming that outstanding financial dues would be invested in "approved government tenders" with returns expected by December 2024. When the investor demanded repayment, Dave reportedly provided various excuses to stall the process.
Expanding Investigation and Potential Impact
Police authorities anticipate the fraud amount could substantially exceed initial estimates as more victims come forward. PI Kher stated that at least 10 additional victims have approached police with similar complaints of being duped through fake tender offers.
"The fraud amount has already crossed Rs 41 crore and may go beyond Rs 100 crore as more complainants join the investigation," Kher added, indicating the possibility of the scam being much larger than initially documented.
The case has sent shockwaves through Ahmedabad's business community, highlighting the need for increased vigilance when dealing with government tender opportunities. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to identify all affected parties and recover the defrauded amounts.
