Ahmedabad: A fresh cheating case has been registered against alleged conman Anil Vibhani after an event manager accused him of defrauding him of ₹4.75 crore in connection with the high-profile “Norat Nagari” Navratri event organised by folk singer Kirtidan Gadhvi in Ahmedabad last year. The complaint, lodged at Sarkhej Police Station, alleges that Vibhani failed to deliver promised sponsorships and misappropriated proceeds from VIP passes and tickets, causing substantial financial losses to the organisers.

According to the FIR, complainant Arjunbhai Bhutiya, a resident of Bopal who runs event management firm Hekta Infrastructure, had organised the 10-day “Norat Nagari” Garba festival at Gopal Farm on S.P. Ring Road during Navratri 2025. Bhutiya stated that before the event, he came into contact with Anil Vibhani, who claimed to have extensive experience in managing large-scale events and assured him that he could secure sponsorships worth ₹3.25 crore for the festival.

Trusting these assurances, Bhutiya went ahead with the event and reportedly spent around ₹12 crore on advertising, marketing, artist bookings, VIP facilities, and other arrangements. The event featured performances by noted folk singer Kirtidan Gadhvi and was promoted as a major Navratri attraction.

'Conman' Anil Vibhani Booked for ₹4.75 Crore Fraud in Kirtidan Gadhvi's Norat Nagari Garba Eventhttps://t.co/kbgro2Um50 pic.twitter.com/shivnCVTR2

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The complaint alleges that Vibhani was entrusted with sponsorship-related responsibilities and was given VIP passes and tickets worth ₹1.5 crore for distribution and sale. However, Bhutiya claimed that Vibhani neither secured the promised ₹3.25 crore sponsorship nor handed over the proceeds from the VIP passes and tickets. The total alleged loss has been pegged at ₹4.75 crore.

According to the FIR, when Bhutiya repeatedly sought payment after the event concluded, Vibhani initially sought time until December 2025 to settle the dues. Later, he allegedly stopped answering phone calls and avoided communication altogether.

The dispute allegedly escalated in April 2026 when Bhutiya met Vibhani in person and again demanded the money. During the meeting, Vibhani allegedly refused to make any payment and threatened to kill him if he continued to pursue the matter.

Based on the complaint filed on June 7, 2026, Sarkhej Police have registered a case against Vibhani under Sections 316(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police Inspector L.L. Chavda is investigating the case.

The latest FIR comes days after the Ahmedabad Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Anil Vibhani and his wife, Vimi Vibhani, in an alleged multi-crore fraud case. Investigators have alleged that the couple cheated at least 15 people of more than ₹20 crore by claiming political and bureaucratic connections and promising to get official work done. During the investigation, police also seized several luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover and a Mercedes-Benz, from the accused. DeshGujarat