NRI duped in Investment Scam of Rs.1.23 Crore by Swaminarayan Devotee

An NRI from Lunawada in Mahisagar district was allegedly defrauded of ₹1.23 crore by a Swaminarayan sect devotee from Vidyanagar, who lured him with an appealing scheme promising to multiply his money in a short period.

The NRI, a Canadian citizen, was purportedly threatened with death and filed a complaint with the Vidyanagar police station.

Kalpeshkumar Patel (47) is originally from Dalukhadiya in Lunawada, Mahisagar, and now a Mississauga resident, manages an educational institute in Canada.

In 2022, he went to Haridham in Sokhda, Vadodara, where he met Milan Kumar, also known as Nishchint Patel, a resident of Tulsi Elegance, Vidyanagar.

During their meeting, Milan informed Kalpesh that he had been a dedicated volunteer for 18 years under Swaminarayan sect leader Hariprasad Swami.

He also claimed to be involved in real estate, cosmetics, and a visa consultancy called ‘Prabodham International’ at Neptune Square, opposite the Sardar Patel Statue on Railway Station Road in Vidyanagar.

Milan convinced Kalpesh that he had several investment strategies that might double his money in a short period of time. Kalpesh trusted him and handed over Rs.23 lakh in cash.

In exchange, Milan promised Kalpesh that he would give security by delivering property documents for two flats: one in his mother Jaya Patel’s name at Aditya Harmony Apartments in Karamsad, and another held by his acquaintance Amita Desai.

He also photographed four blank cheques from Kalpesh. Milan later gave over the property documents, explaining that whenever he made a profit from the investment, the documents may be cancelled.

Later, Milan persuaded Kalpesh to contribute Rs.1 crore, promising that the principal would be recovered within a year and an extra Rs.1 crore in profit within 12 to 18 months. Kalpesh believed Milan since he was a Swaminarayan devotee, and he transferred a total of Rs.1,30,72,500 through multiple transactions, according to the FIR.

When the agreed-upon term expired, Kalpesh sought his money back. Milan returned Rs.7.5 lakh in cash, but made excuses, stating that the remaining funds were still invested in the scheme.

When Kalpesh went to Vidyanagar to demand his money, Milan allegedly threatened him, claiming that the property documents he provided included Kalpesh’s blank cheques, and because the property owners had not yet received payment, a false case may be filed against him. Milan also allegedly threatened to kill Kalpesh if he took the case further.

Milan struck an agreement in January 2024 to return the money by May 23, 2024. However, he failed to do so, prompting Kalpesh Patel to file a case with the Vidyanagar police station accusing Milan of defrauding him of Rs.1.23 crore.

Milan and his family members, including his mother Jaya, brother Manish, and Amita Desai, filed civil cases against the NRI at Anand Civil Court.

On January 7, 2025, Kalpesh saw Milan at Atmiya Vidhya Dham Mandir in Bakrol, where he angrily attacked him and arrogantly said that neither the promised profit nor the principle investment would be returned.

During the meeting, Milan used verbal abuse and threatened, saying, “Do whatever you can; forget about profit; you won’t even get your invested money back. I have quite high-level political contacts.”