Second FIR Filed Against Japanese Firm Officials
Two weeks after the Ludhiana police registered a case against three Japanese nationals and two other company officials for committing fraud with a Ludhiana-based agricultural equipment manufacturing firm, another FIR has been registered against the same five accused. The second FIR comes after one of the complainants, Gursimran Singh Mand, received a death threat via a WhatsApp call.
Details of the First FIR
The first FIR was lodged against the accused for not returning machinery worth Rs 61.60 lakh, taken for field trials about two years back, to the firm. The case was registered on the complaint of Jagatjit Singh, owner of Ludhiana-based Jagatsukh Industries Private Limited, a company that manufactures agricultural implements and garden sprayers. The accused are representatives of Maruyama Mfg India Private Limited, a Japan-based company specializing in agriculture machinery, with its local office in Gurgaon.
The accused were identified as Munenori Ohta, the firm’s managing director; deputy director Takayuki Saito; company functionary Toshio Kondo; and managers Harmeet Singh and Ritwique Das. According to complainant Jagatjit, the accused applied for patenting some of his firm’s machines on the Government of India website without informing him. He further alleged that the accused took some parts borrowed by the Japanese firm for testing machines and sold them in the Indian market, evading huge taxes in the process.
Arrest and Death Threat
One of the accused in the fraud case was arrested from the Delhi airport by the Ludhiana police. Following the arrest, Gursimran Singh Mand, another complainant, received a death threat via a WhatsApp call, prompting the police to file the second FIR against the same five individuals. The police are investigating the death threat and its connection to the fraud case.
Impact on the Local Firm
Jagatsukh Industries Private Limited has suffered significant losses due to the alleged fraud. The machinery taken for field trials was never returned, and the unauthorized patent applications have caused legal complications. The company is seeking justice and recovery of its assets. The tax evasion allegations, if proven, could lead to further legal action against the accused.
Police Investigation Ongoing
The Ludhiana police are continuing their investigation into both FIRs. They have not yet commented on the death threat or the progress of the fraud case. The accused remain in custody, and further developments are expected as the investigation proceeds.
