Professor and Transporter Arrested in ₹94-Lakh Cheating Case After Nearly Two Years on the Run

Mumbai: A nearly two-year search for two men wanted in connection with an alleged ₹94-lakh cheating case finally came to an end after Mumbai Police traced them to Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

The accused, identified as Kamlesh Sahu, 39, a professor at an engineering college who is also associated with the transport business, and Virendra Tanwar, a transporter, were arrested from different locations in Raipur, police said.

The arrests followed a focused investigation by the Vanrai police in Goregaon East, who reportedly relied on information from their network of informants to track down the two men after they had allegedly gone into hiding.

Accused Had Stopped Using Mobile Phones

Tracking the two suspects was not easy for investigators. Police said Sahu and Tanwar had stopped using their mobile phones, apparently to avoid leaving a digital trail that could help investigators locate them.

For nearly two years, the accused allegedly managed to stay away from Mumbai and evade arrest.

Their whereabouts eventually came to light after police received information that both men had shifted to Raipur. Investigators began verifying the leads and eventually identified their locations in the city.

Sahu was reportedly staying in the area with his wife, while Tanwar was traced to another location in Naya Raipur.

Police arrested Sahu from Sector 27 in Raipur during a search operation on Friday. The following day, investigators located Tanwar at the premises of Aranya Bhavan, the Forest Department Main Office in Naya Raipur, where he was arrested around 3 pm, officials said.

Case Dates Back to 2024

The alleged cheating case dates back to the period between January and March 2024 and involves a Goregaon-based logistics company.

According to the police, the alleged fraud came to light after discrepancies were noticed in the company’s accounts.

The company director, Prashant Shettikar, subsequently became aware of the alleged involvement of an employee, Dev Sharma, who was serving as the zonal head of Box N Freight Logistics Solution Private Limited.

Police allege that Sharma worked with Sahu and Tanwar to create fake documents and show transactions worth ₹94 lakh even though the corresponding logistics services were never actually provided.

The alleged operation involved the preparation of fake e-way bills, fabricated receipts and counterfeit company stamps. These documents were reportedly used to make the transactions appear genuine on paper.

According to investigators, no actual transportation or other services were provided against the transactions.

Zonal Head Allegedly Received Commission

Police said Sharma, who was arrested around a month and a half ago from Bengaluru, is currently in jail.

Investigators allege that Sharma received a ₹4-lakh commission from Sahu and Tanwar for approving the fake bills.

Of this amount, police said, ₹2 lakh was allegedly transferred to Sharma’s wife’s bank account.

The discovery of these transactions reportedly helped investigators understand the alleged mechanism behind the fraud and identify the other people involved.

Once Sharma was arrested, police shifted their focus to Sahu and Tanwar, who had allegedly disappeared after learning that Mumbai Police were looking for them.

How the Alleged Fraud Was Carried Out

According to the FIR registered on the complaint of company director Prashant Shettikar, the alleged fraud involved several individuals.

The police have alleged that Sharma colluded with Ravi Gupta, the owner of M Trucky Online Transport, as well as the owners of Fraka Shipping—Ankita Rai, Pragati Singh and Virendra Tanwar.

The accused allegedly used paperwork to create the impression that logistics transactions had taken place.

However, investigators allege that no goods were actually transported.

Instead, fake e-way bills and receipts were allegedly generated, while fake company stamps were used to make the documents look legitimate. These entries were then allegedly used to support transactions worth around ₹94 lakh.

The alleged manipulation remained undetected until discrepancies in the company’s accounts raised questions and prompted further scrutiny.

What the Company Does

According to police, Box N Freight Logistics Solution Private Limited works in the logistics sector and handles contracts obtained from third parties.

The company reportedly arranges courier and cargo transportation services for clients through different modes, including air, road, sea and multimodal transportation.

Investigators believe the alleged accused exploited this business process to create transactions on paper without actually providing the corresponding services.

Police Intensify Search for Absconders

The arrests were also part of a wider effort by Mumbai Police to locate accused persons who have remained absconding in older cases.

Police officials said Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti had directed police stations across the city to intensify efforts to track down wanted accused in pending cases.

Following the directive, officers at Vanrai police station stepped up their investigation into the ₹94-lakh cheating case.

Investigators followed information from their sources and eventually learnt that Sahu and Tanwar had relocated to Raipur.

After confirming the leads, a police team travelled to Chhattisgarh and began searching for the suspects.

The investigation eventually took officers to Naya Raipur, where they were able to trace both men.

Two-Year Manhunt Ends in Raipur

Sahu was reportedly found hiding in Raipur with his wife and was arrested from Sector 27.

Police then continued their search for Tanwar and eventually located him at Aranya Bhavan in Naya Raipur.

His arrest the next day brought an end to a nearly two-year search for the second major accused in the case.

The arrests are expected to help investigators piece together the alleged financial transactions and establish the individual roles of those named in the FIR.

Investigation Continues

The police investigation into the alleged ₹94-lakh fraud is continuing. Investigators are examining the financial transactions, documents and communications connected to the case to determine how the alleged fake billing operation was carried out and whether other people were involved.

The case highlights how fraudulent transactions can sometimes remain hidden behind apparently legitimate paperwork. Fake e-way bills, receipts and company stamps can create the appearance of genuine business activity even when no actual goods or services have been exchanged.

For the investigators, however, the arrest of Sahu and Tanwar marks a significant development in the case after months of efforts to trace the two alleged absconders.

Police are now expected to question the accused about the alleged transactions, their links with the other accused and the flow of the money involved in the case.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.