Gujarat businessman first met main accused in Kolkata about two months back who introduced him to another person; the accused, however, asked the victim to first deposit Rs 1 crore at an Angadia firm (informal courier and cash transfer service) in Malad to demonstrate financial credibility
Accused promised to invest. Representational pic/iStock
A businessman from Gujarat has filed a complaint with the Dindoshi police alleging that he was duped of Rs 1 crore in a bogus investment scam operated through a fake Angadia office in Mumbai.
According to the complainant, 48, the fraud took place nearly two months ago when he met a man named Shakeel Ahmed in Kolkata who introduced him to a supposed investor, Devendra Gowda, who promised to invest Rs 1.8 crore in his company.
The accused, however, asked the victim to first deposit Rs 1 crore at an Angadia firm (informal courier and cash transfer service) in Malad to demonstrate financial credibility.
Following their talks, the victim travelled to Mumbai, where he met both Gowda and Ahmed at the Milan Hotel in Malad. Gowda then coordinated with an alleged associate, Rudra, and instructed the businessman to deposit the money at V Patel’s Angadia office.
When the staff at V Patel’s office refused to accept the money, the complaint was redirected to RK Angadia, where he initially parked his funds for safekeeping. The next day, following continued persuasion by the accused, the businessman was taken to a second office, Vasant Amba Enterprises — a fake Angadia setup in Malad. The victim then withdrew Rs 1 crore from RK Angadia and deposited the amount at the Vasant Amba Enterprises under the impression that it would secure the promised investment.
The victim, in his complaint to the police, said, “After the deposit, the accused took me for lunch and kept stalling, claiming Rudra would arrive soon.”
“Later, he claimed that a man named Nikhil, believed to be linked to Rudra, was detained by two men who claimed to be police. The next day, when I returned to the Angadia office to reclaim my money, the office was shut, and all contact numbers of the accused were switched off,” he said in his complaint.
Realising that he had been duped, he approached the Dindoshi police station and got a complaint registered.
“The accused set up a bogus Angadia firm to siphon off his money under the pretext of investment,” said an officer.
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