A man in Ahmedabad has been apprehended by the Crime Branch for purportedly amassing over Rs 3.18 crore under false pretenses. He allegedly claimed to have influential connections in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to assist in releasing Rs 11.10 crore seized during an ED operation.
The accused, identified as Vijaykumar Patel, alias Vijay Mukhi, approached the owners of an angadia firm following the ED raid. He allegedly convinced them that he could use his ED and CBI links to secure the seized funds’ release. Subsequently, the firm’s owners and members reportedly handed him Rs 3,18,65,900 in multiple payments.
According to officials, despite assurances from the accused and his associates, the money was neither returned nor the release facilitated. A case has been filed against five individuals, including Vijaykumar, under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at DCB Police Station, Part “A”. Vijaykumar has been arrested and granted six days’ remand by the court for further investigation.
Investigators disclosed that Vijaykumar attempted to claim ownership of the seized cash through a notarized agreement with an associate. He has a history of criminal cases and has resided in various locations, including the UK and Vanuatu, before returning to India as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder. The Crime Branch suspects that there may be additional victims of similar scams and has urged them to come forward.
