Vadodara: Dabhoi Police have registered a case of alleged fraud worth more than Rs 6.18 crore in an international timber trade transaction, naming seven persons, including Ahmedabad-based businessmen and a Canada-based individual, for allegedly cheating a Canadian partnership firm through forged documents and a criminal conspiracy.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly imported and cleared 144 containers of high-value timber through Mundra Port without paying dues amounting to 6.49 lakh US dollars (approximately Rs 6.18 crore). The timber was allegedly released from customs using forged documents and subsequently sold in the domestic market.

The complainant, Sruhadkumar Patel, a native of Mandala village in Dabhoi and a Canadian citizen engaged in the timber business through a partnership firm in Canada, alleged that he entered into business dealings with Ahmedabad-based Jai Jalaram Saw Mill on the recommendation of his associate, Mitul Bhatt.

As part of the arrangement, the Canadian firm procured timber from two suppliers and shipped a total of 144 containers to Mundra Port between January 31 and October 31, 2024. The agreement stipulated that payment would be made within 60 days of the consignments reaching India.

Police said that while payment of approximately Rs 1.06 crore for eight containers was received through a Canadian bank account, dues amounting to 6.49 lakh US dollars remained outstanding.

According to the complaint, representatives of the Canadian firm later travelled to India and held meetings with the partners of Jai Jalaram Saw Mill, who allegedly assured them that payment for the consignments would be made. However, despite repeated assurances, the outstanding amount remained unpaid for nearly seven months.

The complainant further alleged that the accused removed the name of the original Canadian supplier, 15610877 Canada Inc., from customs-related documents and replaced it with another entity, V.K. Global Trading Inc. Using allegedly forged invoices showing lower values, the timber was cleared from customs and sold in the market.

Based on the complaint, Dabhoi Police have registered offences of cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy against the seven accused. The investigation has been handed over to the Police Inspector of Karjan.

The accused include five partners of Jai Jalaram Saw Mill Arjan Karshan Patel, Shankarlal Karshan Patel, Babu Karshan Patel, Chetan Babu Patel and Alpesh Babu Patel all based in Ahmedabad. The other two accused are Parag Babu Patel of Satellite, Ahmedabad, and Nirav Parag Patel, who is currently residing in Canada and is originally from Ahmedabad.

Police are investigating the financial transactions and the alleged use of forged customs documents in the case. DeshGujarat