Powai businessman duped of Rs 30 lakh in betel nut trade ‘scam’; police launch search for suspects

“We have registered the case and are actively searching for the accused,” said Senior Inspector Madhukar Sanap of Airport Police Station.

According to the police, the complainant, Prakash Shukla, 49, was introduced to one Ramkishan Pandey, a resident of Thane, by a relative. Pandey, in turn, introduced him to Gupta, who claimed to be an exporter of betel nuts. Gupta was accompanied by two associates, Patel and Samaliya, who were presented as fellow exporters from Gujarat.

“Gupta resides in Navi Mumbai, while Patel and Samaliya are based in Gujarat and frequently travel to Mumbai for business,” said a police officer.

The police said Shukla’s relative allegedly vouched for the three men’s credibility, convincing him that the transaction would be highly profitable. Following several phone conversations, a meeting was scheduled on December 26 at a five-star hotel in Vile Parle to create an illusion of credibility, said the police.

During the meeting, the suspects offered to sell 26 tons of betel nut at Rs 250 per kilogram, worth Rs 1.30 crore. They demanded an advance of Rs 30 lakh in cash, assuring that the remaining amount could be paid via cheque or RTGS after delivery. Shukla was not carrying cash at the time, so he arranged the payment within a few hours, and handed over Rs 30 lakh to the suspects later that evening.

Encouraged by the deal, the police said, Shukla contacted a relative in Delhi who also showed interest in purchasing 60 tons of betel nuts. However, when Shukla followed up with the suspects regarding the delivery, they initially assured that the consignment would be delivered by December 31.

Subsequently, the suspects stopped answering calls — their phone numbers were first found switched off and later out of service, according to the complaint. Shukla approached the Airport Police Station after he realised he had been duped, and submitted a written complaint.

The police verified the facts and registered a case against Gupta and two others under sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).