NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, FEB 4
The Ahmedabad cyber crime branch has arrested two persons for allegedly duping a businessman of Rs 7.15 lakh on the pretext of helping him get back his security deposit made for an online auction, officials said on Thursday.
The accused, Bhupat Savani (50) and his son Brijesh Savani (26), both residents of the Ghodasar area in Ahmedabad city, were arrested on Wednesday on charges of cheating, the cybercrime branch said in a release.
In 2019, the city-based businessman took part in an online auction conducted by the state’s geology and mining commissioner for 32 sand blocks in Sabarkantha district.
As part of the bidding process, the businessman deposited a refundable security amount and linked his bank account with an online portal meant for the bidding process.
Since he won two out of 32 blocks during the online bidding, he was entitled to get a refund of Rs 7.15 lakh for the remaining 30 blocks, said the release.
As the businessmen did not receive any refund, the two accused got in touch with him.
They posed as government employees working with the commissioner’s office, and told the businessman that they can help him get the refund using their connections in the office.
However, after obtaining the necessary details from the victim, the accused allegedly linked their bank account with the system and transferred Rs 7.15 lakh to it through an online process, the cybercrime branch said.
A preliminary investigation into the case revealed the two accused knew about the nitty-gritty of the system as they are also into the business of sand mining since 2013, it said.
