Mumbai: The BKC police have registered an FIR against two persons for allegedly cheating two diamond merchants of Rs 1.65 crore. The accused took diamonds from Kantilal Chhotalal Diamond Company and Rajdoot Gems Company for sale, but neither sold the gems nor returned or paid for them.
About The Case
According to the FIR, registered on May 30, the sales manager of Kantilal Chhotalal, located at Bharat Diamond Bourse, had known the accused for five years. The accused – Akshay and Hitesh Kumar – jointly run Shubh Ornaments in Chennai. On April 8, the Kumars called Kantilal Chhotalal and ordered two diamonds totalling 2.04 carats worth Rs 28.56 lakh. Subsequently, the firm sent the diamonds to Shubh Ornaments and was assured that the deal would be completed within seven days.
Three days later, the Kumars again contacted the firm requesting additional diamonds. The firm sent diamonds weighing 2.02 carats worth Rs 26.47 lakh. However, when the firm followed up regarding the payments, the Kumars claimed they would transfer the money soon. Later, their mobile numbers and Shubh Ornaments’ landline number were found switched off.
The complainants later learned that the Kumars had duped another company, Rajdoot Gems, by taking diamonds worth Rs 82.58 lakh. Meanwhile, in a similar case, Santosh Lonandkar, 60, a diamond trader from Opera House, was allegedly defrauded of diamonds worth Rs 3.6 crore by a business associate of several years, under the pretext of a high-value deal with a client in Bengaluru.
The accused approached Lonandkar claiming he had a buyer for 500 carats of white full-cut diamonds. Lonandkar arranged the batch, totalling Rs 3.6 crore, and handed them over on October 22, 2024, under a formal jangad (consignment) receipt signed by both parties. Later, the accused issued a cheque, asking Lonandkar to deposit it after Diwali. However, when the cheque was presented for clearance, it was dishonoured.
