NZ visa fraud: Seven cheated of 71 lakh

Ahmedabad: Seven clients of a Memnagar businessman were allegedly cheated of Rs 71 lakh by two individuals in a visa-related scam. Jaydip Nakrani, who operates a visa consulting firm, Vizalink, and an advertising business, filed a complaint with Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) police against Darshil Patel and Jaimin Patel. He accused them of not delivering on their promise of arranging work permits for seven of his clients.
According to Nakrani's complaint, the transactions began in Nov 2023. Darshil, representing a firm named Madhvi's British Academy, had advertised New Zealand work permits on Instagram.
Nakrani met Darshil to discuss the matter, and Darshil allegedly claimed that he and his wife Krupa Patel could arrange work permits, flights and jobs in New Zealand for Rs 17 lakh per person. Relying on this assurance, Nakrani and his firm facilitated payments for seven individuals.
The payments were made in cash and through bank transfers to accounts associated with Darshil and Jaimin. The transactions, made between Jan and April 2024, amounted to Rs 71 lakh, the FIR states.
In April 2024, Nakrani received visa documents via WhatsApp from Darshil. Upon verification by immigration consultant Tirth Pandya, the visas were found to be invalid. Darshil assured Nakrani and Pandya that the visas would become valid once the applicants landed in New Zealand, but this was later proven false.
As travel dates approached in May 2024, the flights were cancelled. When Nakrani questioned the accused, he was told that either the matter would be resolved, or the money would be refunded. Neither was done.
Nakrani finally approached DCB police and filed a complaint against Darshil and Jaimin Patel for cheating, breach of trust and abetment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.