Rajkot: A travel agency owner and his wife have been booked in Gujarat’s Rajkot for allegedly cheating nine customers of ₹50.09 lakh by promising overseas holiday packages that were never delivered. Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the alleged fraud. According to the complaint, the couple offered attractive international tour packages to destinations including Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Bali, collected payments from customers, but repeatedly postponed the trips. When victims demanded refunds, the accused allegedly sought more time before eventually closing their office and switching off their mobile phones. Investigators are now examining financial transactions, bank accounts, and digital evidence to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud.
According to police, the case was registered at Malaviyanagar Police Station against Rajkot residents Abhinav Patel and Dhara Patel, who operated a tours and travel agency from the R.K. Prime Building near Nana Mava Circle. The complainant, 58-year-old professor Bharat Vaher, told investigators that he had approached the agency while planning an overseas vacation with his family. The accused allegedly offered an attractive eight-night, nine-day international holiday package and collected payments from him in multiple instalments.
The complaint states that as the scheduled departure date approached, the accused repeatedly postponed the trip by citing various reasons. They later cancelled the travel plan altogether, attributing it to technical issues and other excuses. When the complainant requested a refund, the couple allegedly continued seeking additional time but neither arranged the promised holiday nor returned the money.
During the investigation, police learned that the complainant later joined a WhatsApp group where several other customers reported experiencing similar problems with the same travel agency. Members of the group claimed they had also paid for overseas tour packages but neither received the promised trips nor obtained refunds. Preliminary findings indicate that the accused allegedly collected approximately ₹50.09 lakh from nine customers through cash payments and bank transfers.
Investigators said the amounts paid by individual victims varied significantly. Some customers allegedly paid around ₹1.49 lakh, while others transferred as much as ₹16 lakh for international travel packages. The complaint also mentions another alleged incident in which a customer paid ₹80,000 for a mobile phone that was promised to be procured from Dubai. According to the allegations, the customer neither received the device nor obtained a refund.
Police have registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and begun examining bank accounts, payment records, travel booking documents, and other financial evidence. Investigators are also trying to determine how the collected funds were utilised and whether any additional individuals were involved in the alleged fraud. Authorities said the scope of the investigation could expand if more victims or a larger network are identified.
Cyber experts at the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) said online travel package frauds often rely on attractive discounts, limited-time offers, and heavily discounted international holiday deals to persuade customers to make advance payments. The experts advised travellers to independently verify the legitimacy, registration, office address, and customer reviews of any travel agency before making payments. They also recommended using secure and traceable payment methods and preserving all booking confirmations, invoices, and transaction records as evidence in case of disputes.
Police have urged the public to book international tours only through authorised and reputable travel agencies. Authorities advised travellers to exercise caution if an agency repeatedly postpones trips, delays refunds, or suddenly becomes unreachable. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and further legal action will be taken based on the financial and digital evidence collected during the probe.
