NRG cheated of Rs 7.71 lakh in US travel package

Rajkot: A 70-year-old US citizen, Ramesh Udhreja, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 7.71 lakh by a husband-wife duo who operate a travel company in Morbi.

The police booked Maharishi Dave and his wife Bhavika under the sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act.

According to Udhreja's complaint, he was living in Virginia for the past six years and holds American citizenship as well as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. He stated that he is now retired but involved in farming activities.

Udhreja was invited to attend the wedding of a friend's son, Mukesh Panchal, scheduled for April 11, 2025, in the US. About a year ago, Panchal told him over the phone that he would arrange flight tickets and asked Udhreja to make a payment for the same.

Panchal recommended he contact Maharishi and Bhavika, directors of Vaishvi Tourism Pvt Ltd, saying he knew them personally. On April 1, Udhreja, his brother-in-law Mohanlal Jagodara, friend Mukesh Panchal, and Vasant collectively transferred Rs 7.71 lakh to the duo's bank accounts. The payment was made for flight tickets and a tour package.

However, instead of confirmed e-tickets, the group was only sent ‘on-hold' flight reservations. Despite repeated phone calls and follow-ups, they never received the confirmed tickets. The accused stopped responding to inquiries and did not answer their calls, police said.