How Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, collaborators in Vibrant Gujarat 2017, fleeced state jewellery customers

By Shaktisinh Gohil*
Nirav Modi ("chhota Modi") and Mehul Choksi ("hamare Mehulbhai") have not only siphoned off from India’s banks a sum of Rs 21,306 crore. A new layer of conspiracy has now been unearthed which discloses that India’s middle class and common people have also been duped of Rs.5,000 crore or perhaps more. A complicit Modi Government has even refused to publicly acknowledge this loot.
Gitanjali Gems Limited had floated three jewellery investment schemes, i.e. (a) Shagun, (b) Swarna Mangal Labh, and (c) Swarna Mangal Kalash. Modus operandi of the scheme was that an ordinary person, seeking to buy jewellery as also to earn a return on investment, was required to pay 11 installments of a specified amount. In return, the Gitanjali group offered to pay the 12th installment as free. Tenure of these installments could be 12 months, 24 months or 36 months. At the end of the tenure, the amount so accumulated could be redeemed for jewellery with an additional bonus of up to 50%.
Like in the case of banks, the common man was duped by way of these schemes. In a huge number of cases, neither the installment was paid nor the jewellery given, nor the amount returned. Consequently, a large number of police complaints were filed in Gujarat by way of affidavits in September 2015 Annexures A-1 to A-4 (Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE to see the four affidavits submitted to the Gujarat police. Click HERE for copy of the card issued for the scheme).
On 10th October, 2017, a large number of persons again filed complaints against the fraud being played upon common men by Gitanjali Group. Shockingly, instead of registering FIR and arresting Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi and others, the Bhavnagar Police, with whom the complaints were filed, kept the matter pending and finally referred it by recording that it should be investigated by CID Crime, Gandhinagar (click HERE for copy of the translated version of the police report).
Interestingly, although complaints were given on 10th October, 2017, Gujarat Police waited up to 25th January, 2018, by when Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi had run away from the country along with their families. Across Gujarat, there are thousands of such cases, where there was complete inaction by police in proceeding against Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi.
It is indeed surprising that people were defrauded with impunity and the entire government machinery of BJP remained a mute spectator. Complicity and protection at the highest level is, thus, writ large.
Despite huge number of complaints of fraud and duping of common men pending, the BJP Government projected Gitanjali Group of Mehul Choksi/Nirav Modi as a Ccllaborator for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit of2017 held between 10-13 January, 2017 (click HERE for a copy). No wonder, there was complete inaction against Chhota Modi and his uncle.
It is necessary to ask:

Why is BJP mum on the connections of Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi to BJP leadership?
Was Mehul Choksi not invited in the small gathering when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gold Monetization Scheme in the year 2015? Did Prime Minister not refer to Mehul Choksi with great affection in his speech, specially addressing him as ‘Hamare Mehulbhai’?
Was Nirav Modi not part of the gathering of Indian CEOs photographed with the Prime Minister, in Davos, Switzerland, on 23rd January, 2018 (after his escape from India) and was this photograph was released by PMO, PIB and MEA Twitter handles?
Why is the Prime Minister fighting shy of admitting his connection to Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi?
Is it true that Aparna Chaudasama (sister-in-law of BJP spokesperson and Maharashtra BJP’s Ms Shaina NC) was head of sales with Nirav Modi?
(v) Is it correct that Mehul Choksi and Geetanjali Group had showcased creation by Ms Shaina NC in August, 2015? Is it correct that this show was presided over by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis and Anar Patel, daughter of former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, was also present as a guest of honour in the function? Is it correct that Mehul Choksi had given huge ads in newspapers of this function showcasing the sponsored event by Gitanjali Group along with pictures of the persons named above to project his proximity (click HERE for copy of the ad)?

---
*National spokesperson, All-India Congress Committee

Comments

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Search This Blog