West Bengal Businessman Defrauded of Gold Coins in Ahmedabad Tender Scam
A 66-year-old businessman from West Bengal has fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme in Ahmedabad, losing gold coins valued at Rs 4.38 lakh. The incident, which involved individuals posing as middlemen with connections to secure railway tanker tenders, was reported to the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) on Saturday, leading to a formal case of cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Details of the Fraudulent Encounter
The complainant, Uttamkumar Mukherjee, a resident of Durgapur in West Bengal, operates a business specializing in government tenders. According to the FIR, the fraud unfolded on March 4 when Mukherjee traveled to Ahmedabad after receiving information about upcoming railway tanker tenders in Gujarat. He was allegedly contacted by an acquaintance, Rajiv Gogoi, on March 3, who advised him to connect with Hardik Jain of Vadodara, claiming Jain had influential contacts.
Upon contacting Jain, Mukherjee was directed to Swapnil Bangali, an advocate purportedly capable of arranging the tender through his network. Mukherjee was instructed to come to Ahmedabad for a meeting and informed that officials required "gifts" worth approximately Rs 3–4 lakh before discussions could proceed. Complying, Mukherjee flew to Ahmedabad on March 4 and checked into a hotel in Ellisbridge, where he purchased two gold coins—one weighing 20 grams and another 5 grams—totaling Rs 4.38 lakh through a local contact.
The Elaborate Deception Unfolds
Later that morning, Jain met Mukherjee at the hotel, followed by the arrival of Bangali and another man introduced as Jitu Patel. The duo asserted that Patel had strong connections with officials in Delhi who could ensure the tender's approval. The group then proceeded to the circuit house in Shahibaug, where the accused allegedly confiscated the gold coins from Mukherjee, stating the "gift" needed to be delivered before meeting the officials.
Subsequently, two individuals were presented as officers—Tejas Mehta and Kaushik Lakhani—who assured Mukherjee that the tender would be arranged if Patel's instructions were followed. After returning to the hotel, the fraudsters demanded an advance payment for processing the tender. However, when Mukherjee and Jain refused to pay any advance before contract approval, the suspects departed, leaving Mukherjee suspicious.
Investigation and Legal Action
Growing wary, Mukherjee conducted inquiries and discovered that no officials by the names provided were associated with any railway tender process. Realizing he had been cheated, he approached the DCB and lodged a formal complaint. The DCB police have registered a case under relevant sections for cheating and criminal breach of trust, initiating an investigation into the matter.
This incident highlights the risks faced by businesses in tender-related dealings and underscores the importance of verifying credentials before engaging in such transactions. Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and report similar fraudulent activities promptly.
