Third arrest made for cheating diamond trader

NEW DELHI - The third member of a gang that allegedly cheated a trader of diamonds worth Rs.40 lakh was arrested, police said here Sunday. His two other accomplices were arrested earlier this month.

“We arrested Ravi Raj Johri from Kolkata. He has been arrested for cheating a diamond trader in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area May 11,” a senior police officer said.

While Johri, 29, was arrested Friday, two of his accomplices Rajat Khanna, 31, and Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, 56, were arrested earlier for cheating diamond trader Charanjeet Singh Malhotra.

According to police, Malhotra visited the shop of the accused and showed them diamonds worth Rs.40 lakh.

“They took the diamonds and all the three left the shop. Malhotra waited for them to return but after some time he realised that he has been cheated and he contacted the police. A case was registered on the same day,” the officer added.

Bhardwaj was arrested May 12 and during investigation it was revealed that he had rented the shop. He disclosed that he along with his accomplices planned and conspired to cheat the diamond merchant.

Bhardwaj disclosed that the diamonds were in the possesion of Johri and Khanna. Johri had, meanwhile, left his rented house in West Patel Nagar, police said.

The breakthrough occurred when police got the tenant verification documents submitted by the owner of the house where Johri was living.

“With the help of the verification documents we found out that the accused Johri was in Kolkata,” the officer added.

Khanna was arrested Tuesday.

“Diamonds worth Rs.36 lakh were recovered from Johri’s possession and diamonds worth Rs.4 lakh were recovered from Khanna,” he added.