Mumbai News: 'Idli Guru' Hotel Owner Arrested For Duping Businessman Of ₹23.6 Lakh, Promising Franchise Deal In Partnership

Mumbai: The Vile Parle police on Saturday arrested Kartik Babu Shetty, the owner of 'Idli Guru' restaurant, for allegedly cheating a businessman of Rs 23.6 lakh under the pretext of offering a franchise. He was arrested from Bengaluru and the metropolitan magistrate court in Andheri remanded him to judicial custody.

The action comes after monthslong investigation following a complaint lodged by businessman and Juhu resident Ravi Pujari, 50, on June 26, 2024. During the probe, it was found that Shetty had been allegedly involved in similar offences in the past.

In 2023, the accused, who hails from Bengaluru, opened the restaurant in Versova, Andheri West. In November 2023, Pujari and his family visited the eatery and were impressed by the food. Pujari decided to venture into the restaurant business by starting an 'Idli Guru' franchise. He got Shetty's contact number from the restaurant manager.

According to the businessman, Shetty responded positively to his proposal and said that the franchise would cost Rs 20 lakh, with an additional Rs 3.60 lakh as GST and Rs 10,000 for customer outlet charges. Pujari agreed, and in December 2023, they formalised the agreement. As per the deal, the complainant was supposed to get 20% of the profit and the remaining would go to Shetty, said the FIR.

In November 2023, Pujari transferred Rs 10 lakh from his Canara Bank account to Shetty’s HDFC account, followed by another tranche of Rs 13.60 lakh in December.

The former said that he finalised a rental space for the restaurant in Vile Parle East and signed a 60-month lease for it. Despite repeated follow-ups with Shetty, only sand and tiles were delivered to the location and no work on setting up the restaurant was carried out, claimed Pujari. According to the agreement, the restaurant was to become operational within 60 days, but Shetty failed to cooperate, he alleged.

He said that he later found that the accused had been arrested in a franchise cheating case in Bengaluru in February 2024. Oshiwara residents, Mukesh Kapoor and Aaditya Kapoor, had also been duped by him.