NAGPUR, FEB 25: An industrialist, hiding in Mumbai after allegedly duping a local cooperative bank of Rs 1.67 crore, has been arrested by a special team of the city police. Ashok Makhija - the absconding industrialist and owner of Sumeet Rollings - was brought to the city on Wednesday evening.Makhija was wanted in a case filed against him by the Nagpur Nagrik Sahakari Bank from where he had reportedly secured a loan of Rs 1.67 crore. The bank filed a criminal complaint against him after he went absconding and even sold all the machinery of his industrial unit before bank authorities could acquire it.Ashok Makhija's father Harbhajan, who is a partner in the firm, is still absconding along with the third partner, Sanjay Kapoor.According to reports, Ashok Makhija secured a Rs 1.67-crore loan from Nagpur Nagarik Sahakari Bank last year and mortgaged his industrial shed at MIDC, and the heavy machinery therein, against the loan. But Makhija did not pay a single instalment despite several reminders and notices.Early this month, the bank decided to acquire the industrial shed and machinery of Summeet Rollings. However, when the bank officials reached there, they were shocked to find that Makhija had disposed it of. Hence, it lodged a criminal complaint of fraud against Makhija and two others.The city police have also booked the trio in another fraud case following a complaint by a steel trader, Sunil Agrawal. According to Agrawal, Ashok Makhija purchased steel worth Rs 4.5 lakh last year for his firm, but failed to pay the bills. A cheque issued on behalf of Sumeet Rollings to Agrawal had reportedly bounced.Deputy Commissioner Zone I Sanjay Kumar has handed over investigations in the two cases to the special investigative team. PSI Lokhande and PSI Farooqui of the team were sent to Mumbai after a specific information about Makhija's hideout was received. Although the police were hopeful of nabbing all three partners, only Ashok Makhija could be arrested. Search is on for the other two.
