Fake Pharma Firms, Bogus Purchase Orders: Ahmedabad Businessman Allegedly Cheated of Rs 47.37 Lakh
Ahmedabad: A 51-year-old graphics designing and printing businessman from Ahmedabad has allegedly been cheated of Rs 47.37 lakh by a mother-son duo who reportedly used bogus purchase orders in the names of two non-existent pharmaceutical companies to obtain money for raw materials and left printing bills unpaid.
The complainant, Hirenkumar Chinubhai Gandhi, who runs Sharp Design, alleged that Ronak Pramodbhai Bhavsar and his mother, Jagrutiben Pramodbhai Bhavsar, caused him a financial loss of ₹35.34 lakh towards raw materials and ₹12.02 lakh in unpaid printing bills. Following Gandhi’s complaint, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch registered a case and initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud.
Gandhi, a resident of Utsav Elegance on Sola Road, operates Sharp Design, a graphics designing and printing business registered in the name of his wife, Shitalben. According to the complaint, he met Ronak Bhavsar in July 2024 through a mutual acquaintance. Bhavsar, who reportedly lives at Sukoon Residency near Silver Star Crossroads in Chandlodia, claimed to operate R.B. Enterprise and Praja Graphics, with the latter registered in his mother Jagrutiben’s name. Both businesses reportedly operated from Abhushan Complex on Stadium Road in Navrangpura. Ronak allegedly claimed that he had been handling printing work for pharmaceutical companies for around 20 years and could help Gandhi secure substantial business in the sector. He subsequently proposed a partnership.
Between August and October 2024, Ronak allegedly emailed Gandhi purchase orders purportedly issued by two pharmaceutical companies, Aim Pharma and Resin Pharma. The orders were reportedly valued at ₹33.75 lakh and ₹66.64 lakh, respectively. According to the complaint, Ronak claimed that purchasing raw materials in bulk would reduce costs and persuaded Gandhi to provide the required funds. Gandhi allegedly paid ₹35.34 lakh, comprising ₹23.73 lakh through bank transfers and ₹11.61 lakh in cash. However, the complaint alleged that the raw materials were never purchased.
Apart from the alleged raw-material fraud, the accused reportedly commissioned printing work worth ₹12.02 lakh for Praja Graphics. The assignments included brochures, stickers and boxes. Gandhi alleged that the payment for the completed work remained outstanding. Whenever he sought settlement, the mother-son duo allegedly offered excuses and repeatedly postponed payment.
Growing suspicious, Gandhi reportedly conducted inquiries into the pharmaceutical companies named in the purchase orders and allegedly discovered that Aim Pharma and Resin Pharma did not exist. This raised further questions about the authenticity of the orders and the proposed business transactions. He alleged that the documents had been used to persuade him to provide money for raw materials, while payments for the printing work were also left unpaid.
According to a recent media report in Gujarat Samachar, Gandhi subsequently approached the Economic Offences Wing of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and lodged a complaint against Ronak Bhavsar and Jagrutiben Bhavsar. The police registered a case and launched an investigation into the alleged ₹47.37 lakh fraud, including the bogus purchase orders, financial transactions and unpaid printing bills. The allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings.
