Surat textile trader arrested for ₹23.50 lakh fraud after Gujarat Dy CM steps in
Synopsis
A textile trader who allegedly cheated three Surat businessmen of ₹23.50 lakh and evaded arrest for 18 months was nabbed within seven days of a victim walking into Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi's Gandhinagar office. The case exposes how ministerial access can fast-track justice — and what happens when it is absent.
Key Takeaways
Mohammad Zakiriya Gulam Mohammad Kapadia , proprietor of Zaid Textiles , was arrested by the Surat Crime Branch on 12 August for allegedly defrauding three traders of ₹23.50 lakh .
The accused had allegedly evaded arrest for nearly 18 months after a complaint was registered at Salabatpura Police Station .
Victim Manishkumar Patel approached Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar , prompting immediate directions to the Crime Branch.
Rojia and his team arrested Kapadia within seven days of receiving ministerial directions.
Alleged outstanding dues: ₹13 lakh to Manishkumar Patel, ₹3.80 lakh to Jay Patel, and ₹6.46 lakh to Rohit Patel; cheques reportedly dishonoured.
A Surat-based textile trader accused of defrauding three businessmen of ₹23.50 lakh has been arrested by the Surat Crime Branch, seven days after one of the victims personally approached Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar seeking intervention. The swift arrest on 12 August ended an evasion that had stretched nearly one-and-a-half years.
The Fraud and Who Was Targeted
Mohammad Zakiriya Gulam Mohammad Kapadia, proprietor of Zaid Textiles, allegedly began trading with three textile merchants — Manishkumar Patel of Jai Ambika Textiles, Jay Patel of Dev Tex, and Rohit Patel of Jai Sadhima Textiles — as far back as 2017. All three operated out of Hari Om Industrial Society-2 in the Bamroli area of Surat.
According to the complaint filed at Salabatpura Police Station, Kapadia initially paid on time and built the traders' trust before allegedly purchasing large quantities of grey yarn on credit and failing to clear dues. The alleged outstanding amounts stood at ₹13 lakh owed to Manishkumar Patel, ₹3.80 lakh to Jay Patel, and ₹6.46 lakh to Rohit Patel. Cheques issued against the dues were allegedly dishonoured by the bank.
Threats and Prolonged Evasion
The complainants also alleged that Kapadia threatened them when they pressed for repayment. After a formal complaint was registered, he allegedly changed his shop address and shifted locations repeatedly to evade arrest. He also reportedly remained absent during court proceedings, prolonging the legal standoff for roughly 18 months.
Victim's Appeal to Deputy CM Triggers Action
With conventional legal channels yielding little progress, Manishkumar Patel travelled to Gandhinagar and met Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi during a scheduled visitors' day at his office, submitting a written representation. Sanghavi directed the Surat Crime Branch to take immediate and strict action.
DCP Crime Branch B.P. Rojia and his team intensified the investigation following those directions and arrested Kapadia within seven days. The accused was subsequently produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
Victims Speak Out
'We were fighting a legal battle, but after going to Gandhinagar and making a representation to Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the way he immediately issued strict directions and activated the Crime Branch made our visit to Gandhinagar completely fruitful,' Manishkumar Patel said.
'We have received justice through the prompt action of the Deputy Chief Minister and Surat Police. I also request other traders in the textile sector not to be afraid and to approach the police and government. The authorities are ready to provide full support and cooperation,' Patel added.
The case highlights how direct ministerial intervention can accelerate action in long-pending fraud matters — and raises questions about whether ordinary complainants without such access face a longer wait for justice.
Point of View
But the more uncomfortable question is why it took a victim travelling to Gandhinagar and securing direct access to a Deputy Chief Minister to get an 18-month-old complaint acted upon. The Surat Crime Branch had the tools to act earlier; what changed was political pressure, not new evidence. For every trader who can secure a visitors'-day audience with a minister, many more cannot — and their cases presumably wait. Gujarat's textile belt, one of the country's most economically significant, deserves a fraud-response mechanism that does not depend on who you can get a meeting with.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mohammad Zakiriya Gulam Mohammad Kapadia and what is he accused of?
Mohammad Zakiriya Gulam Mohammad Kapadia is the proprietor of Zaid Textiles in Surat, accused of purchasing grey yarn worth ₹23.50 lakh from three traders without making payment. He allegedly issued cheques that were dishonoured and threatened the traders when they sought repayment.
Why had the accused not been arrested for 18 months?
According to the complaint, Kapadia allegedly changed his shop address and shifted locations repeatedly to evade police, and also remained absent during court proceedings. The complaint had been registered at Salabatpura Police Station but enforcement had stalled until ministerial intervention.
How did Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi get involved?
Victim Manishkumar Patel personally visited Sanghavi's Gandhinagar office during a public visitors' day and submitted a written representation. Sanghavi then directed the Surat Crime Branch to take immediate and strict action, after which the arrest followed within seven days.
Who are the three traders who were allegedly defrauded?
The three victims are Manishkumar Patel of Jai Ambika Textiles (allegedly owed ₹13 lakh), Jay Patel of Dev Tex (₹3.80 lakh), and Rohit Patel of Jai Sadhima Textiles (₹6.46 lakh). All three operated from Hari Om Industrial Society-2 in Bamroli, Surat.
What happened to the accused after the arrest?
Kapadia was produced before a court following his arrest by DCP B.P. Rojia's Crime Branch team and was remanded to judicial custody. The case is now before the court.
