Single Google search query cost this Gujarat man Rs.43,50,000

Gujarat’s Ankleshwar based chemical firm Jay Processors had ordered Calcium Nitrate from China, with advance payment of Rs. 43.50 lakh. However the company was supplied mineral powder(pure white dust that has no value) instead of Calcium Nitrate. This incident of cheating has created doubts among Gujarat based industrialists over trade with China.

Ankleshwar based Jay Processors company functions at GIDC plot no. 5732 here. The company is involved in manufacturing of chemicals that are used in glass factory. Firm owner Vishnubhai Patel used to purchase primary raw material Calcium Nitrate at a cost of Rs. 24-25 per Kg from Maharashtra in India.

One day Vishnubhai explored search engine giant Google’s website searching for opportunity to get cheaper supply of Calcium Nitrate from somewhere else, may be from another country.

Through Google Search, Vishubhai eventually jumped in to one Jingtai Tinen(spelling might be different) Chemical Product Company’s offer, according to which Calcium Nitrate was available at effective cost of Rs. 14-15 per Kg.

Finding this a good deal, Vishnubhai placed an order of 200 tone Calcium Nitrate.

The Chinese firm first dispatched the consignment, and then demanded payment from Vishnubhai. Accordingly Vishnubhai sent 66,600 American dollars( Rs. 30 lakh) to China.

Not only this, but when his consignment arrived, Vishnubhai also paid Rs. 13,50,000 as Custom and Excise duty at Indian port.

Thus the total cost of 200 tone Calcium Nitrate came to Rs. 43,50,000.

However when Vishnubhai opened the bags, he was shocked as he found mineral powder(white dust of no value) instead of Calcium Nitrate that he had ordered. When he contacted the company in China, he was not responded well first, and completely avoided later.

Vishnubhai tried to lodge complaint in GIDC Ankleshwar police station, however the police was in dilemma about registering his complaint as the origin of crime had taken place in China. Later higher officials of police intervened and accepted Vishnubhai’s application(not complaint).

While other industrialists and traders generally shy about talking in public how they were cheated, Vishnubhai invited media to tell his story with motive to aware others about such fraudulent practices of China.