Mumbai police files FIR against jeweller family over allegations of duping Gujarat car dealer of Rs 1.3 crore

Patel had come in contact with Pahujas through a common contact last year.

Pahujas last year sold off their Mercedes to Patel for Rs 1.3 crore. Pahujas told Patel that they were selling their car at a discounted price as they were in need of money to setup a business project in Canada.

The said car was in their jewellery company’s name and was bought over loan by them from Mercedes Benz Finance Services India Pvt Ltd. Pahujas assured Patel that once he makes payment, they will pay the outstanding amount of the loan to the finance company, clear the loan, and give him an NOC, states the FIR.

Patel got the delivery of the car last year, but never got the NOC and the documents of the vehicle. “I have been making trips to Mumbai and following up with Pahujas to get the NOC and documents, but in vain. I was shocked when, in June this year, the finance company seized the car and took it away as part of the recovery of their loan. When I contacted Pahujas, they didn’t respond and told me that they would clear everything once they return from abroad,” said Patel.
Patel had alleged that the accused persons used his money for wrongful self-gain.

Patel later found out that there are already complaints of fraud against the Pahujas in Mumbai. Hence he approached the NM Joshi Marg police and filed a complaint.

Countering the allegations made in the FIR, Chirag Pahuja in an email statement said, “The Mercedes sold to Dhruvesh (Patel of AFL cars) was driven 00 kms ex-showroom and was paid upfront only 65% of the amount as an RTGS and remainder amount was to be given as per negotiation with the final buyer of the vehicle.”

He further stated, “Why would we sell him a brand new car at 65% of its value? (these transactions work in trust). The balance amount needed to be cleared for the loan to be repaid and closed. EMIs were regularly paid by us as the car was on our corporation loan and we hadn’t concluded the final sales price with AFL cars to close the loan. (8 months) August-March 2023. Delivery (of the car) was taken on the pretext of finding a final buyer between July-August 2023. Yet after continued follow up of nearly 5 months we couldn’t get any details of parties. Dhruvesh had already sold the cars too, something we found out much later. As they were sold in his home state of Gujarat and beyond, we had little scope of finding out.”

Chirag added, “We requested Dhruvesh to close the loan or take his deposit back (which he did) as mentioned in our complaint application with the police dated September 10, 2024, but yet didn’t receive the delivery of the car so we stopped paying the EMIs as we didn’t want a third party to be driving cars on our company name.”

Police have booked Pahujas under sections 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and are further investigating the matter, said an officer.