Mumbai: The Kandivali Police arrested a businessman for allegedly defrauding an electronics supplier of Rs 1.17 crore by acquiring goods on credit and failing to make payments. The accused, Darshan Chudghar, is currently in police custody, while his business partner, Vikram Omprakash Srivastava, also known as Vicky, has been declared wanted in the case.
The complaint was filed by a Kandivali resident and the proprietor of Crystal Technology Systems Pvt Ltd. His company supplies IT hardware and software products, including laptops, CCTV systems and storage devices from top brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus. Pradhan has been running his wholesale business for the past eight years.
How Did The Scam Unfold?
According to a Lokmat Times report, the incident began in April 2023, when Pradhan came into contact with Srivastava, the owner of Padmavati Enterprises. Darshan Chudghar was introduced as Srivastava’s partner in the firm. The duo expressed interest in conducting regular business with Pradhan’s company.
Initially reluctant, Pradhan eventually agreed to begin supplying goods to Padmavati Enterprises. Over time, Crystal Technology provided laptops, surveillance equipment, and other electronics valued at Rs 1.54 crore. However, only Rs 36.77 lakh was paid. The remaining Rs 1.17 crore remained unpaid as multiple cheques issued by the firm bounced.
Attempts by Pradhan to recover the money were unsuccessful. When he visited the company’s listed office in Goregaon, he discovered that a different business was operating from the address, raising further suspicion. Repeated calls and messages to Srivastava and Chudghar went unanswered or were met with evasive replies.
Probe Underway To Unveil Larger Scam
Later, the investigation revealed that the duo had allegedly defrauded another electronics firm in Pune of Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore using a similar strategy. Police suspect that Chudghar and Srivastava operated a larger scam, targeting electronics suppliers in multiple cities by gaining trust, taking goods on credit, and disappearing without settling dues.
Following Pradhan’s complaint, Kandivali Police registered a case under charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust. A special operation was launched to locate the accused. Darshan Chudghar was arrested three days ago and efforts are currently underway to track down co-accused Srivastava.
