- globetrotter
- 10 Feb 2025
- #Money & Investments
In a shocking case of financial fraud, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from Canada was allegedly defrauded of ₹1.23 crore by a Swaminarayan sect devotee from Vidyanagar, Gujarat. The accused, identified as Milan Kumar, also known as Nishchint Patel, lured the victim with a scheme promising to double his investment in a short period.
The Victim: An Educator from Canada
The victim, Kalpeshkumar Patel (47), originally from Dalukhadiya, Lunawada (Mahisagar district), now resides in Mississauga, Canada, where he operates an educational institute. In 2022, he traveled to Haridham, Sokhda (Vadodara), where he met Milan Kumar.
The Fraudulent Investment Scheme
Milan Kumar, a self-proclaimed dedicated Swaminarayan sect volunteer, claimed to be involved in real estate, cosmetic products, and a visa consultancy named Prabodham International, based in Vidyanagar. He convinced Kalpesh Patel to invest, initially handing over ₹23 lakh in cash, with the assurance of security through property documents of two flats.
Trusting Milan’s claims, Kalpesh later transferred ₹1.30 crore in multiple transactions, believing he would receive double the amount within 18 months.
Threats and Non-Payment
As the investment period ended, Kalpesh demanded his money back. Milan repaid ₹7.5 lakh in cash but continued making excuses for the remaining amount.
When Kalpesh visited Vidyanagar to confront Milan, the accused allegedly threatened him, stating that the property documents had blank cheques, which could be misused to file a false case against him. Milan also allegedly issued death threats if Kalpesh pursued legal action.
Legal Battle and Police Complaint
Despite signing an agreement in January 2024 promising repayment by May 23, 2024, Milan failed to return the money. This led Kalpesh to file a complaint at Vidyanagar police station against Milan for fraud.
However, in a countermove, Milan and his family, including his mother Jaya Patel, brother Manish, and associate Amita Desai, filed civil cases against Kalpesh in Anand Civil Court.
On January 7, 2025, at Atmiya Vidhya Dham Mandir, Bakrol, Kalpesh confronted Milan again. Milan verbally abused him and arrogantly refused to return the money, claiming high-level political connections and stating, "Forget about profit, you won’t even get back your invested money."
Ongoing Investigation
As the case unfolds, authorities are investigating the financial scam and potential misuse of religious influence in fraudulent activities. The legal battle between Kalpesh Patel and Milan Kumar continues, with law enforcement closely monitoring developments.
