Ahmedabad: A self-proclaimed godman who allegedly duped people to the tune of crores of rupees, is finally behind bars.
Shockingly, the fraud involves hundreds of people (figure could run into thousands) involving almost Rs 20 crores.
Police say that Ashok Jadeja and his wife Nita were fleeing Ahmedabad when they were nabbed with Rs 1.98 crore.
When produced in court, he was greeted with abuses by angry people he had defrauded. Among them is Savita Chhara, who wants her money back.
"I feel like committing suicide with my children.. Even if he gives us the original amount, we will be happy.. We don't want what was promised," said Savita.
Jadeja looted people in the garb of religion.
His method was simple.
He would reportedly sit outside the temple called the Sikoter Mandir in the city and tell gullible people that if they kept their money with him, the goddess would make them rich.
He would gain his customers’ confidence by paying back thrice the amount deposited in the first few transactions.
It is reported that he was a smooth operation run with the help of 35-odd accomplices.
Public Prosecutor Harivadan Chauihan said, “His network is spread over five or six states, so the magistrate has granted a ten day remand to carry out a complete investigation."
The police say reportedly the fraud ran to the tune of Rs 20 crore in three states. But with complaints increasing by the hour, the figure is expected to be much higher.
Superintendent of Police (CID) R K Patel said, “People are coming from different states to lodge complaints. Even today, some 400 persons have arrived.”
For the police though, the immediate task is to recover the money and also seize properties purchased by Jadeja.
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