Mumbai Businessman Falls Victim to ₹11.5 Crore Scam Promising Massive Interest-Free Loan
A Ghatkopar-based businessman has been allegedly duped of a staggering ₹11.50 crores in an elaborate fraud scheme that revolved around the promise of an interest-free loan of ₹200 crores. The complainant, Hitesh Ajmera, who works in custom clearing, has filed a police complaint detailing how he was systematically cheated by a group of individuals.
The Elaborate Conspiracy and False Promises
According to the complaint filed with the Pant Nagar police, the crime unfolded between March 2024 and July 2024. Ajmera claims he was introduced to Shantilal Patel in January 2024 through an office employee. Patel allegedly presented himself as a landowner with approximately 110 acres of property in Goa and discussed selling this land, offering Ajmera a commission for his assistance.
This initial contact soon led to an introduction to the main accused, Vivekkumar Sinha (also known as Abhishek Kumar Singh Chauhan) and his wife, Akanksha Awasthi. Patel allegedly informed Ajmera that Vivek Kumar possessed ₹300 crore in cash stored in a godown located in Bettiah, within the West Champaran district of Bihar. However, they claimed this substantial amount required funds to be "redeemed."
Building Trust and Initial Transactions
The accused reportedly assured Ajmera that if he provided financial assistance for this redemption process, he would receive an interest-free loan of ₹200 crore within a few days. To reinforce their credibility, Akanksha Awasthi allegedly projected herself as a Bhojpuri film artist who operated a studio in Mumbai, adding a layer of legitimacy to their claims.
Convinced by their assertions, Ajmera began transferring money. His first transaction occurred on March 22, 2024, when he transferred ₹50 lakh to Vivek Kumar's bank account as per their instructions.
The Trip to Bihar and Escalating Demands
In May 2024, the plot thickened as Ajmera traveled to Patna accompanied by Patel and Vivek Kumar. There, he was introduced to another individual named Raviraj Sharma, who was presented as the owner of the godown where the cash was supposedly stored.
During this meeting, Ajmera was informed that ₹11 crore was necessary to redeem the cash. To substantiate their story, they showed him a photocopy of a notarised lease agreement for the godown, dated December 14, 2023. Following this, Ajmera proceeded to transfer additional funds, culminating in a total of ₹11.50 crore being deposited into Vivek Kumar's bank account.
The Disappearance and Realization of Fraud
The scheme began to unravel on July 5, 2024, while Ajmera was traveling from Patna to Bettiah with Vivek Kumar. Vivek Kumar reportedly stopped at a sweet shop and never returned. Subsequent attempts to contact him revealed that his mobile phone was switched off.
After waiting for nearly 15 days and receiving only evasive responses, Ajmera discovered that Patel had also left Patna without informing him. With his funds depleted, Ajmera returned to Mumbai. Repeated efforts to reach Vivek Kumar and the other accused proved futile, leading Ajmera to conclude that he had been cheated as part of a pre-planned conspiracy.
The Pant Nagar police are now investigating this complex case of financial fraud, which highlights the risks associated with high-stakes promises and the importance of due diligence in financial dealings.
