The local crime branch has arrested Sukhdev Purohit, who duped several trusts and individuals by promising land donations for an old age home in Naranpura, Ahmedabad. He collected around Rs 18 lakh in donations and had been absconding.
Purohit, who used aliases like Vijay and Surendra, conned multiple trusts and individuals by pretending to donate land. The scam came to light when Mahesh Darji, operator of Laxmidham Old Age Home, received a call from a man claiming to be Vijay, offering a plot in Prahladnagar for the home.
After showing the land, Vijay convinced Mahesh and his mother to visit Secretariat for registration. At Sardar Bhavan, he collected Rs 85,000 in cash, promising to start the registration process, then disappeared. Mahesh filed a complaint after failed attempts to contact him.
Police investigation revealed Purohit duped victims by taking them to government offices to appear legitimate and collecting money. Many victims did not report the fraud, allowing him to continue.
Authorities stated that Purohit’s scams spanned Ahmedabad city, rural areas, Gandhinagar, and surroundings, amassing nearly Rs 18 lakh through these fraudulent schemes.
