Gujarat Police arrest Indore man in ₹9.61 crore Rajkot investment fraud
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Rajkot City Police have arrested Hardik Tanna, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, for allegedly defrauding a complainant and multiple investors of ₹9.61 crore through a firm called Dwarkadhish Enterprise. The arrest was made from the Vijay Nagar area of Indore after police tracked the accused using technical and confidential intelligence sources.
How the Alleged Fraud Unfolded
According to police, the alleged scheme began in 2023. Tanna reportedly told investors that Dwarkadhish Enterprise was engaged in swiping debit cards and offering loans against them, promising high returns on investment. In a pattern consistent with Ponzi-style operations, he allegedly returned small sums to early investors to build trust before soliciting larger amounts.
After establishing credibility, Tanna allegedly collected further investments through both bank transfers and cash. Police said he collected a total of ₹9,61,91,492 from the complainant and various investors before misappropriating the funds and fleeing Rajkot.
Case Registration and Legal Sections
An offence was formally registered at Gandhigram-2 (University) Police Station on 19 August under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 3 of the Gujarat Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 2003. The Gujarat depositors' protection law is specifically designed to address financial fraud involving public money collected through unlicensed or dubious investment schemes.
The Arrest Operation
Police Inspector K.K. Gohil directed Police Sub-Inspector R.R. Kothiya and a dedicated team to trace Tanna after the case was registered. Acting on intelligence placing the accused in Indore, the team travelled to the city and apprehended him from the Vijay Nagar locality. During questioning, Tanna reportedly admitted to the offence. He was subsequently brought back to Rajkot for further legal proceedings.
The operation was carried out under the direction of Rajkot City Police Commissioner Brajeshkumar Jha and Additional Police Commissioner Chaitanya Mandlik, with oversight from other senior officials, police said.
Broader Context
Investment fraud schemes promising guaranteed returns through fictitious financial products have seen a notable rise across Gujarat and other states. This is not the first such case in Rajkot — the city has seen several complaints involving informal investment firms that collapse after collecting crores from small and mid-level investors. The use of the Gujarat depositors' protection statute signals that authorities are treating the case as a systemic financial crime, not merely a civil dispute.