Ahmedabad, April 13 (NationPress) - The Crime Branch of Ahmedabad has apprehended seven individuals in connection with an elaborate inter-state scam that involved the manipulation of electronic weighbridge systems to defraud companies during scrap transactions, officials disclosed on Monday.

The Crime Branch stated that this group operated across several states, engaging in fraudulent activities by tampering with machines used for weighing scrap materials.

The investigation was initiated following specific intelligence reports, leading to thorough technical analyses and field inquiries.

Authorities indicated that the suspects had installed specialized chips in weighbridge apparatus, allowing them to alter the weight displayed.

Additionally, they utilized remote-control devices to modify readings and produce misleading weight slips that indicated lower weights than the actual cargo.

This deceitful practice enabled them to illegitimately profit from scrap purchases.

Inspector Nikhil Brahmbhatt remarked, "In Gujarat and neighboring states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, numerous scrap traders and large corporations are involved in issuing scrap tenders. This gang consistently submitted the highest bids while executing fraud. We have detained seven members of this group."

According to investigators, the culprits participated in scrap tenders from companies and industrial units or acquired scrap through auction processes.

Upon finalizing deals, they allegedly tampered with weighbridge systems at the sites through associates possessing technical skills, thereby underreporting the actual weight of scrap and cheating scrapyard operators and site owners.

Acting on precise intelligence regarding the gang's assembly with illegal equipment in the Vatva GIDC area, a Crime Branch team conducted a raid, resulting in the apprehension of all seven suspects.

A Crime Branch representative informed IANS, "We received targeted inputs about their congregation. All seven were captured in Vatva GIDC, Ahmedabad."

Furthermore, an official added that the fraud is estimated to be between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore, affecting companies such as the Adani Group, Reliance Industries, and Essar.

"We have reached out to the affected companies to involve them in the investigation. We also suspect that some employees, including security personnel, may be implicated in this scheme," the official noted.

The alleged mastermind, identified as Rajnish Kashyap from Madhya Pradesh, is currently at large.

“Two additional individuals from Noida and New Delhi are believed to be connected to this fraud,” the official shared with IANS.

The arrested individuals have been named as Hemantkumar Raval (33), Sanket Raval (24), Vijay Thakor (36), Manish Rabari (27), Vinod Patni (36), Mukesh Patni (31), and Sunil Patni (36).

Police noted that these individuals reside in Ahmedabad and surrounding districts, with origins in Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha, Gandhinagar, and Patan.

Authorities have identified six additional suspects as wanted in the case, including Rajnish Kashyap, Chirag Goswami (alias Chirag Bawa), Sunil Bodi, Vinod Champo, Ashok Gugo, and Sanjay Patni.

During the operation, police confiscated four electronic chips valued at Rs 80,000, 13 remote-control devices worth Rs 65,000, 12 mobile phones valued at Rs 2.65 lakh, and a car worth Rs 15 lakh.

The total estimated value of the confiscated items is Rs 19.10 lakh.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.