Ahmedabad Crime Branch Busts Interstate Weighbridge Manipulation Racket
In a significant crackdown on organized crime, the Ahmedabad crime branch has successfully dismantled an interstate gang that was systematically manipulating electronic weighbridges in the Vatva GIDC industrial area. The operation resulted in the arrest of seven accused individuals who were allegedly cheating scrap dealers and industrial units through sophisticated technological fraud.
Technical Surveillance Uncovers Elaborate Scam
City crime branch officers revealed that their investigation began after receiving specific intelligence about the gang's activities. Utilizing both technical surveillance and human intelligence, authorities uncovered a carefully orchestrated operation that spanned multiple states and targeted the scrap metal industry.
The gang's modus operandi involved striking deals to purchase scrap metal through various channels including bidding sites, company scrap yards, and auctions across different states. Once they secured these deals, the accused would illegally install specialized microchips into the electronic weighing machines used at weighbridges.
"By showing a significantly lower weight of the scrap purchased than actual, they systematically defrauded company scrap yards and site owners," explained investigating officers. The microchips could be remotely controlled to manipulate the displayed weight of scrap-laden trucks, generating fraudulent weight receipts that showed substantially less material than was actually being transported.
Coordinated Raid Nets Seven Accused
Acting on a tip that gang members had gathered at Vatva GIDC Phase 3 with their equipment, crime branch officers conducted a coordinated raid that led to the apprehension of all seven suspects. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Hemantkumar Raval, 33, resident of Khokhra
- Sanket Raval, 24, of Vatva
- Vijay Thakor, 36, of Bhiloda
- Manish Rabari, 27, of Kalol
- Vinod Patni, 36, of Saraspur
- Mukesh Patni, 31, of Asarwa
- Sunil Patni, 36, of Bapunagar
Substantial Evidence Seized During Operation
During the operation, authorities seized crucial evidence including four microchips specifically designed for weighbridge manipulation, thirteen remote control devices, twelve mobile phones, and one vehicle. The total value of the confiscated equipment exceeds Rs 19 lakh, highlighting the sophistication and scale of the criminal enterprise.
Investigators have also identified several wanted accused who remain at large, all reportedly residents of eastern Ahmedabad. The crime branch continues its investigation to determine the full extent of financial losses suffered by scrap dealers and industrial units across multiple states.
This case represents a growing trend of technologically sophisticated crimes targeting industrial infrastructure, with authorities emphasizing the importance of vigilance and proper security measures for weighing equipment in industrial zones.
