The Phantom Plot & The Vanished Gold: A Tale of Deception from Gujarat's Underbelly

In a compelling turn of events, Ahmedabad's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) recently peeled back the layers of a cunning fraud, apprehending two alleged masterminds behind a sophisticated gold swindle. We're talking about Hitesh alias Brijesh alias Lalo Prajapati, 36, and his associate Mahesh alias Madanlal Prajapati, 50. Their capture, it seems, brings a certain closure, at least for now, to a case that left a Surat jeweller reeling from a staggering loss.

For Pankaj Soni, a jeweller based in Surat, the trust he placed in these individuals dissolved into thin air, taking with it gold worth a cool Rs 28 lakh. Imagine that, a substantial fortune, simply vanished. The complaint, lodged way back in October of 2023, set in motion a meticulous investigation by the EOW – a unit, you could say, dedicated to untangling these complex financial webs.

So, how did they pull it off, you ask? Well, their modus operandi was, in truth, rather classic, yet deceptively effective. They'd approach jewellers, presenting themselves as legitimate property dealers, flashing tempting offers of plots of land. And here’s the kicker: they'd demand gold as an advance payment, promising, quite smoothly, to return it if, by some chance, the deal fell through. A seemingly low-risk proposition for the jeweller, or so it appeared.

Pankaj Soni became their target. The lure? A promising plot of land, supposedly in Gandhinagar. Trusting their smooth talk, Soni handed over gold worth Rs 28 lakh. But, as these tales often go, the promised plot remained just that – a promise. The Prajapatis, with their ill-gotten gains, simply vanished into the shadows, leaving Soni with nothing but a bitter taste of betrayal and a significant void in his inventory.

But the long arm of the law, as they say, eventually reaches. Following Soni’s complaint, the EOW embarked on a relentless pursuit. They traced the duo, patiently piecing together clues, until finally, Hitesh and Mahesh were taken into custody. It's a testament to thorough police work, really, especially when dealing with individuals who have, shall we say, a rather extensive rap sheet.

And this wasn’t their first rodeo, not by a long shot. Both Hitesh and Mahesh, it turns out, boast a rather impressive criminal history, dotted with similar cheating cases across various cities in Gujarat. Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad – their names, or at least their aliases, are reportedly known in police files throughout the state. It paints a picture, doesn’t it, of seasoned operators, always on the lookout for their next mark.

Hitesh Prajapati, in particular, seems to have a flair for the dramatic, having previously been entangled in another colossal cheating case in Ahmedabad. We’re talking about a whopping Rs 1.77 crore, again, using that very same, now familiar, 'property deal' deception. Clearly, he'd found a scheme that worked, at least for a while.

Mahesh Prajapati, too, has his own chapter in this sordid history. Records indicate his involvement in a Rs 2 crore cheating case back in 2017, also within Ahmedabad. So, yes, these weren't amateur players. These were individuals with a proven track record, individuals who had, for a time, made a veritable career out of exploiting trust.

As the investigation deepens, police are now diligently working to unearth further instances of their alleged deceit. One can only wonder how many other unsuspecting victims might be out there, having fallen prey to the persuasive charm and empty promises of these two men. For now, though, at least one golden swindle has reached its rightful, and rather unglamorous, conclusion.