The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has opened an investigation into a colossal shipping and logistics fraud, following a formal complaint by a Mumbai-based firm. The alleged scam, pegged at over ₹325 crore, involves accusations against ALX Shipping Agencies India, OEL Express India, and Dubai’s Aladdin Express DMCC, among others.
How the Fraud Allegedly Unfolded
The complainant, Vishal Mehta, director of Rushabh Sealink & Logistics Pvt Ltd, claims he was lured into investing heavily in deferred shipping operations under promises of guaranteed profits. Initially, the business appeared to run smoothly. But problems surfaced when cargo vessels were diverted and delivery timelines massively delayed.
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Two vessels, Leela Mombasa and XXH-2, figure centrally in the complaint. The Leela Mombasa, carrying cargo valued at around ₹130 crore, was rerouted to Oman instead of Djibouti and arrived 12 days late. Despite Mehta paying a further USD 1 million (≈ ₹8.3 crore) demanded by the accused, the vessel reached its destination only by mid-September. The XXH-2 was diverted from Jeddah to Karachi and held there for 10 days, causing additional losses.
Mehta also claims the accused issued security cheques that bounced — one for “insufficient funds” and another for a signature mismatch. As of now, goods worth over ₹290 crore remain under control of the accused, with exporters bearing the brunt of the heat. The complaint names a mix of Indian and international executives believed to have orchestrated the deception.
Legal Response and Next Steps
The EOW has begun issuing summons to the accused, instructing them to produce relevant documentation and statements. The agency is also collating port logs, cargo manifests, banking trails, and communication records to map the money route.
Investigators say the case blends corporate fraud with cross-border operations and is being treated as a serious breach of trust. As the probe proceeds, questions loom about the oversight mechanisms in shipping and logistics deals and how due diligence was bypassed.
