Businessman cheated of Rs 3.68 lakh in Bangkok tour booking

Time of India

02-06-2025

Rajkot: A businessman and his two friends were cheated of Rs 3.68 lakh by a travel operator who promised an organised trip to Bangkok with all inclusions but arranged only for flight tickets.
In the complaint lodged at Malaviyanagar police station, the victim, Chirag Davda, named Dharmesh Khaini, Kaushik Raghani, Sanjay Kumar Bhuva, and others. Dharmesh, a resident of Surat, deceived around six individuals, including Davda, by promising organised trips but only providing plane tickets. The total amount defrauded is estimated at Rs 5.35 lakh.
In April, Davda and his friend Ankit visited Dharmesh's office, where he assured them of a travel package costing Rs 67,500 per person.
The package was said to include travel expenses, breakfast, and local transportation. On April 15, Dharmesh called Davda, informing him that ticket prices were rising and requested an advance payment. Davda, along with Ankit and another friend, Dhaval, transferred Rs 2.58 lakh.
The next day, they received flight tickets from Ahmedabad to Bangkok and from Bangkok to Phuket, valued at approximately Rs 55,000.
When asked about the remaining package details, Dharmesh claimed the rest was pending approval and would be sent a few days before departure. Subsequently, the trio transferred an additional Rs 1.10 lakh. They were added to a group chat where messages soon revealed complaints that the travel agent was fake, and they had no accommodation or food facilities abroad. The victims reported harassment while stranded overseas.
Attempts to contact Dharmesh failed as his phone was switched off and his office was found closed. Further investigations revealed that Dharmesh allegedly defrauded at least three more individuals in a similar manner.