Porbandar LCB Operation in Gandhinagar: Two co-accused involved in kidnapping-extortion and cyber fraud worth crores of rupees picked up from Kalol

The Porbandar Local Crime Branch (LCB) has nabbed two co-accused who are absconding in a serious crime of kidnapping, extortion and cyber fraud worth crores of rupees registered in the year 2025 from Kalol in Gandhinagar district. The arrested accused have been identified as Parth alias Lalo Mahendrabhai Songela (26, resident of Bhanwad, G. Devbhoomi Dwarka) and Raju Balubhai Parmar (35, resident of Chhaya Nawapara, Porbandar). Police investigations have revealed that a pre-planned conspiracy was hatched to extort a ransom of Rs 70 lakh. On the night of 11/04/2025, four to five unidentified accused barged into the house of the complainant. They abducted the complainant, his son-in-law Bhanubhai and sister-in-law Gigiben and took them away in a black car. They were illegally held hostage by one of the accused's bungalows, forced to pay money to the complainant's daughter over video call. Five days later, Ranjit, son of the complainant's daughter, was abducted from Ranavav by another accused and held hostage at the same place. The accused threatened to beat them, beat them up and indirectly kill them, forcing them to transfer the property, including land, plots, jewellery, etc. The complainant was forced to sign 11 blank cheques. A gold barkha weighing one and a half tolas and a chain weighing about a quarter tola were also seized. The complainant and his son-in-law were held hostage for a total of 17 days and Ranjit was illegally held hostage for 12 days. An attempt was made to recover Rs 70 lakh till 27/04/2025. The second crime related to this entire chapter was registered at Porbandar Cyber Crime Police Station in G.R. No. A-11218019250002/2025 dated Registered on 14/05/2025. During the investigation, it was revealed that Hiralba Jadeja and his accomplices had called the employees of Kotak Mahindra Bank to their residence in a pre-planned manner and opened bank accounts with the lure of their acquaintances and unknown persons. Later, the fraudulently obtained money from the victims of cyber frauds in different states of the country was transferred to these accounts and illegally withdrawn. The money was withdrawn by obtaining cheques signed by misusing the accounts of Jayesh Dhankecha and Kamlesh Dasa, while the money was transferred from the accounts of Parth Songela, Ajay Chauhan and Mohan Waja. Parth Songela and Raju Parmar, who were involved in the crime, were absconding from Lalshahi. Based on credible information, an LCB team was sent to Kalol in Gandhinagar district from where both the accused were nabbed.