Karnataka trader gains trust, cheats petrol pump owner of Rs 2 lakh as well
Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : A case of financial fraud amounting to Rs 30,41,174 has come to light involving a woman trader engaged in onion trade at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vaijapur. The accused, a trader from another state, allegedly gained her trust before duping her. A case was registered at Vaijapur police station on Tuesday at around 8 pm.
According to the complaint filed by trader Trupti Deepak Wavare (43, resident of Vidyanagar, Vaijapur), she has been operating an onion trading business for the past three years under an official licence from the market committee. Her business extends to Vaijapur as well as the Andarsul area in Nashik district.
On August 25, 2025, Mohammad Fazal Pasha (Baba Trading Company, resident of Hassan, Karnataka) visited her trading centre. Initially, he made payments in cash and online, thereby earning her trust. Between November 2025 and February 2026, the accused purchased a total of 12,339 quintals of onions through multiple truck consignments. The total value of the goods was Rs 1,64,49,509.
Although he paid a major portion of the amount, he defaulted on Rs 30,41,174. When Wavare repeatedly tried to contact him for the pending amount, he avoided her calls and eventually switched off both his mobile numbers, cutting off all communication.
Based on her complaint, Vaijapur police registered a case of cheating on Tuesday night and have initiated further investigation to trace the accused. The incident has created concern among local traders.
Fuel taken on credit, payment denied
The accused also deceived Paresh Bhopale, owner of the local Radha Laxmi petrol pump, by gaining his trust and filling diesel in trucks. He defaulted on Rs 2 lakh there as well. In total, the fraud amounts to Rs 32,41,174 involving both the woman trader and the petrol pump owner.