In a major breakthrough, the Warsiya police in Vadodara have arrested Hitesh alias Ghanshyam Hariomprasad Yagnik, a man accused of duping an Ahmedabad resident out of Rs90 lakh under the guise of religious rituals and a bogus land deal in Kutch.
Yagnik, a resident of Halvad, allegedly convinced the victim, Jigneshbhai Mohrowala from the Satellite area of Ahmedabad, that his misfortunes could be cured through rituals and mantra chanting. Further exploiting the victim’s trust, he promised to arrange land in Kutch at a throwaway price, claiming it could later be sold to a company for a hefty profit.
The victim, swayed by the spiritual and financial promises, paid Rs17 lakh in cash and transferred R63 lakh to a bank account held by Yagnik. He also handed over gold jewellery under the pretext of “purification.” After receiving the valuables, Yagnik vanished, vacating his residence without a trace.
A case was filed at the Satellite police station in 2021, but Yagnik remained absconding for four years. Acting on intelligence that he was performing rituals at a temple in Vadodara’s Vijay Nagar, the Warsiya police conducted surveillance and arrested him.
Satellite Police Inspector Chaudhary confirmed the arrest and said Yagnik would be produced in court, where remand will be sought. Authorities suspect Yagnik may have scammed others in Vadodara using the same method. So far, no local complaints have been received, but further investigation is underway.
