Ahmedabad Travel Agency Faces FIR for Allegedly Cheating Gujarat MLA
An official First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Junagadh B Division police station against an Ahmedabad-based travel agency. The agency, Sparkle Holidays Private Limited, is accused of cheating a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Rs 7.15 lakh. The complaint stems from a failed refund for a cancelled foreign trip to Georgia.
Complaint Lodged by MLA's Personal Assistant
The complaint was formally lodged by Harshad Godi, who serves as the personal assistant to Sanjay (Suresh) Koradiya, the MLA involved in this case. The FIR specifically names the partners and employees of Sparkle Holidays Private Limited, highlighting their alleged involvement in the fraudulent activity.
According to the detailed complaint, the MLA and his family had meticulously planned a vacation to Georgia scheduled for June 2025. They booked a comprehensive travel package through Sparkle Holidays, which included accommodation in Tbilisi from June 15 to June 22. A substantial payment of Rs 7.15 lakh was made to the agency to secure this itinerary.
Trip Cancelled Due to International Conflict
The planned vacation took an unexpected turn when the family arrived at the airport. They were informed that their flight had been cancelled due to the ongoing Iran-related conflict, which disrupted air travel in the region. Consequently, the trip was abruptly called off at the airport itself.
Following this cancellation, the MLA's family immediately approached Sparkle Holidays to request a refund for both the cancelled flight and the pre-booked hotel accommodations. The agency initially provided assurances that the refund would be processed in a timely manner, offering some hope to the aggrieved family.
Agency's Refusal to Refund Leads to Legal Action
However, the situation deteriorated rapidly as Sparkle Holidays ceased all communication. The agency stopped responding to phone calls and follow-up inquiries from the family. Eventually, it outright refused to return the money, leaving the MLA and his family without the substantial sum they had paid.
This series of events prompted the filing of the FIR under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to cheating. The case underscores the vulnerabilities consumers face, even high-profile individuals like MLAs, when dealing with unreliable service providers in the travel industry.
The Junagadh police are now investigating the matter, and further legal proceedings are expected as they delve into the allegations against Sparkle Holidays Private Limited. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for travelers to exercise due diligence when booking travel packages, especially involving significant financial transactions.
