Nagpur: A businessman was allegedly cheated of ₹92.59 lakh in a fraudulent transport deal involving fictitious companies and forged business documents in Nagpur. Ambazari police have registered a case against three persons accused of inducing the complainant’s company to make advance payments through fabricated transactions.

The complainant, Prashant Natwarlal Lakhani (54), a resident of Civil Lines, is the director of GB Logistics Commerce Ltd, based in Shankar Nagar. Based on his complaint, police have booked Amit Verma, a resident of Kharghar in Raigad district; Sureshsingh Rathod, a resident of Himatnagar in Gujarat; and Chetansingh Chavan.

According to the police complaint, Verma was the director of AK Suppliers Solution Pvt Ltd in Mumbai and an associate agent of Lakhani’s company. He allegedly facilitated a business agreement with Gatiman Ceramic Industry under which GB Logistics Commerce Ltd was required to make advance payments for transportation services.

Police suspect that the accused lured Lakhani with promises of substantial profits and allegedly used fictitious companies to make the transactions appear legitimate. They are accused of preparing fake invoices, forging electronic waybills (e-way bills) and fabricating lorry receipts (LRs) to create the impression that genuine business activities were taking place.

Using these documents, the accused allegedly induced Lakhani’s company to release advance payments totalling ₹92,59,040.

The alleged fraud came to light when the promised goods were not supplied and discrepancies in the transactions were detected. Lakhani subsequently approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Ambazari police have registered a case against the three accused and launched efforts to trace them. Further investigation is underway.

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