Police in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district have registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against two brothers from Surat after a local transport businessman was allegedly defrauded of ₹7.5 lakh. The victim was lured by a social media advertisement on Instagram that falsely promised to facilitate government-approved consumer diesel pump and petrochemical storage licenses. Following a formal complaint at the Velavadar Bhal Police Station, law enforcement authorities launched a digital and financial investigation to trace the accused, audit fraudulent bank transfers, and verify the forged documents provided to the victim.
Social Media Lure and Fake License Assurances
The fraud came to light after Pallav Ashokbhai Dholakiya, a resident of Subhashnagar in Bhavnagar who operates Samarpan Logistics alongside his business partner Rajnibhai Chad, encountered an advertisement on Instagram promoting license facilitation services under the name “Falcon Group of Companies.” Seeking to expand their transport business, the partners contacted the phone numbers listed in the social media promotion to inquire about obtaining petrochemical storage and diesel distribution licenses.
According to police findings, one of the accused, identified as Prashant Dhanjibhai Jalodhara of Surat, introduced himself as the Managing Director of the firm. Prashant, along with his brother Jatin Jalodhara, assured the businessmen that they could seamlessly secure all necessary regulatory approvals. The brothers fixed the total service fee at ₹15 lakh and even inspected a plot of land in Sanes to select a site for the proposed facility, reassuring the victims that their investment was entirely secure.
Fraudulent Documentation and Disappearance
Convinced by the professional presentation, the complainants paid ₹7.5 lakh to the accused through cash payments and RTGS bank transfers. Upon receiving the funds, the brothers sent notarized paperwork and license approval certificates to the victims via WhatsApp, asserting that the official sanction process had been successfully completed. However, close inspection revealed significant discrepancies in the paperwork, raising immediate doubts about the authenticity of the approvals.
When the promised physical licenses failed to arrive within the agreed timeframe, the businessmen attempted to contact the brothers, only to find both of their mobile phones switched off. Realizing they had been deceived, the victims traveled to the suspects’ residence in Surat. Upon arrival, family members revealed that the brothers had defrauded multiple individuals using similar fraudulent schemes and had absconded. The victims subsequently approached the police to register a formal complaint.
Law Enforcement Probe and Expert Advisory
Velavadar Bhal Police registered a criminal case under relevant statutory provisions covering cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. Investigators are analyzing bank account statements, digital communication logs, and the WhatsApp documents to trace the money trail and confirm whether fake notarizations and forged company credentials were used to execute the crime.
Commenting on the rise of social media fraud, cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh warned that fraudsters are increasingly utilizing sponsored digital advertisements to target unsuspecting entrepreneurs. He emphasized that business owners must independently verify commercial registrations, regulatory permits, and corporate credentials directly through official government portals rather than relying on social media promotions. Authorities are currently pursuing leads to locate the absconding brothers and determine if additional victims were targeted by the syndicate.
