Surat (Agency): A real-life tale resembling a suspenseful thriller has unfolded in Gujarat as the audacious conman Raheel Manjani orchestrates an elaborate scam that has sent shockwaves through the diamond industry.
In a reminiscent fashion of recent high-profile scams, this cunning fraudster cunningly replaced precious diamonds with packets of gutka, a popular chewing tobacco, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs 32 lakhs.
The victim of this audacious swindle is Surat-based diamond trader Rushabh Vora. Vora’s police complaint reveals that he fell victim to the deceptive charms of Manjani, who posed as a diamond broker and gradually gained his trust.
Lured by the promise of lucrative deals, Vora willingly handed over polished, round, and natural diamonds worth Rs 32,04,442 to the fraudster, who claimed he intended to sell them to another trader.
Between February 13 and 21 this year, Manjani collected the diamonds from Vora’s office, carefully sealing them within three parcels. To maintain the illusion of authenticity, he even paid Vora a token amount of Rs 2 lakhs as a gesture of goodwill.
Unbeknownst to Vora, the trap was tightening with each interaction, leading to an impending catastrophe.
As time passed and the promised payment failed to materialize, Vora grew suspicious and demanded the return of his parcels. In an attempt to preserve the facade, it was agreed that the sealed parcels would be opened in Manjani’s presence.
What unfolded next shattered Vora’s world and exposed the depths of deception orchestrated by the fraudster. To Vora’s disbelief, the once dazzling diamonds had vanished, replaced by wicked packets of gutka. The shocking revelation left him in a state of disbelief. He had not only lost his precious gems but also the trust he had placed in the conniving broker.
It became painfully apparent that Manjani, in collaboration with another diamond trader, had meticulously plotted to deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims like Vora. Prompt action was taken by the authorities in response to this alarming incident. Manjani has been charged under sections 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.
An extensive investigation is currently underway to uncover the full extent of Manjani’s criminal network and determine whether other traders have fallen prey to his elaborate scheme. The saga of Manjani serves as a stark reminder of the lurking threats within the business world, where deceit and betrayal can manifest in unimaginable forms.
As authorities delve deeper into this web of treachery, Gujarat’s diamond industry braces itself, determined to protect potential victims from falling into the clutches of audacious scammers.
Annually, India imports approximately $11 billion worth of rough diamonds for polishing, with 80 percent sourced from diamond mining companies and the remainder from Antwerp, Belgium. Surat alone contributes over 80 percent to India’s annual diamond exports, totaling Rs 70,000 crore.
Nine out of 10 diamonds seen in stores worldwide are cut and polished in India, with 75 percent of their brilliance attributed to Surat’s diamond industry. With over 1.5 million individuals involved, Surat has become the beating heart of India’s diamond polishing industry, solidifying the country’s position as the leading exporter of cut and polished diamonds in the world.
