Nagpur- Gitanjali group’s Mehul Choksi co-accused in Punjab National Scam which created a sensation all over the country has not spared Nagpur too. A jeweller Deven Kothari of Nagpur was cheated by Mehul Choksi to a tune of Rs 2.40 crores on pretext of giving franchise of Geetanjali Group. Kothari has been fighting the case in the court from last two years. This has given a new dimension to Mehul Choksi fraud.
Addressing a press conference regarding the fraud Deven Kothari and his lawyer Adv Gajendra Saoji informed that in year 2013-2014 on pretext of giving franchise of Gitanjali Group’s Gili, Sangini and Didamas brands jewellery he was asked to give deposit Rs 90 lakh for Asim jewellery company and Rs 90 lakhs for Gitanjali Groups through cheques.
Kothari sent 6 cheques of Rs 30 lakhs each in the name of both companies. Soon after this there was a demand for Rs 47 lakhs for actually sending the jewellery. Kothari transferred money to Gitanjali group through RTGS but the company sent jewellery worth Rs 95 thousand only and that too of inferior quality. On complaining Kothari was told it was employees mistake and so again the jewellery would be sent but again Rs 10 lakhs were demanded. Once again the amount was transferred through RTGS.
Gold Rate
Friday 28 March 2025
Kothari once again complained to the company as it had sent jewellery at a higher rate. Kothari personally met Mehul Choksi and asked him to cancel the contract. Choksi promised to return Rs 1.80 crore through cheque. Kothari sent back the jewellery of the said company. But after this there was no communication from the company so in year 2015 Kothari lodged a FIR against the Gitanjali Group in Sitabuldi police station.
Adv Saoji informed that the Gitanjali Group registered fake case against Kothari in Mumbai’s Andheri and another police station. Soon after this Kothari filed a case in the court against Gitanjali Group and Mehul Choksi.
Kothari gets threatening calls
After the Gitanjali Group received the court notice Deven Kothari started getting threatening calls. Threatening calls were made over mobile by Gitanjali Group to withdraw complaint. About 10 to 15 persons came to the shop of Kothari and gave him life threats
Many may have been duped
Just as Gitanjali Group has cheated Kothari similarly on pretext of giving franchise it has duped jeweller from Wardha, Yavatmal and Chandrapur. All over the country the Group might have given franchise. Manging Director of Gitanjali Group Santosh Shrivastav in a interview to a channel informed that many jewellers have been duped by crores of rupees. Similarly, jewellers have been supplied sub standard material at a very high rate. The jewellers were given life threats like Kothari.
