Two Arrested for Cheating Borivali Chemical Supplier of ₹17.65 Lakh
In a cross-state operation, police have arrested two men from Rajasthan for allegedly defrauding a chemical supplier based in Borivali out of ₹17.65 lakh using counterfeit payment receipts. The accused, identified as Lalit Bisnoi, 26, and Vikas Bisnoi, 19, both residents of Dangiyawas village near Jodhpur, reportedly posed as representatives of a fictitious firm named Ramdev Industries.
According to investigators, the duo placed orders for industrial chemicals between June 24 and July 1, claiming the materials were required for wood finishing. They procured 62 barrels of ethyl acetate, weighing 13,020 kg and valued at ₹16.03 lakh, along with seven barrels of mixed xylene, weighing 1,204 kg and worth ₹1.62 lakh.
Police suspect the chemicals were not used for woodwork but were instead diverted to clandestine drug manufacturing units. While ethyl acetate is not a primary narcotic precursor, authorities noted it is frequently used in lab-based extraction and purification processes during illicit drug production.
To establish credibility with the supplier, Nirmit Ajmera, the accused allegedly used forged identity documents, including fake Aadhaar and PAN cards, as well as counterfeit letterheads and visiting cards. They also sent fabricated PhonePe screenshots and Unique Transaction Reference numbers to simulate genuine online payments.
The fraud came to light on July 27 when Ajmera reviewed his accounts for another order and found that no payments had been credited to his current account. He lodged a formal police complaint on August 13.
A coordinated investigation was conducted by Mumbai’s North Zone-2 team and Jodhpur’s East division, relying on cyber intelligence, mobile tower data, and physical surveillance. Two undercover officers from the District Task Force watched the suspects for two days before arresting them as they attempted to leave their village.
Direct raids inside the village were ruled out due to past hostile reactions from local residents, said DCP Manishkumar Choudhary. Police clarified that while the accused have no links to the Bishnoi gang, they belong to a group involved in procuring industrial solvents for drug syndicates.
Investigators also found the accused had created fictitious accounts under names such as Shyam Industries and contacted at least 39 chemical firms across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana. They allegedly rented bank accounts for commissions between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 and used forged papers to obtain SIM cards. Both suspects remain in police custody.
