Cops begin attachment, write to ED for probe

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 24

A few days after Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal ordered a fresh probe into more than 100 FIRs of travel fraud registered against notorious travel agent Nitish Ghai, the top cop has started the process of attachment of his properties worth several crores garnered through illegal means.

The police have prepared the list of his properties which he bought after committing travel frauds.

“We have identified his 11 prime properties which he reportedly bought from the money taken from the innocent people aspiring to go abroad. We have started the property attachment process and ADCP (Crime) Rupinder Bhatti has been told to revisit all cases registered against him so that justice could be ensured for the people duped by the agent,” CP Agrawal told Ludhiana Tribune.

The Tribune has a copy of the list of the properties prepared by the Ludhiana police.

The police said such fraudsters usually buy less property in their own name and most property in the name of their family members. “Law has the provision to attach even those properties which the accused have bought in the name of their family members to save him from the eyes of the police. Cops are also identifying more such properties of the agent if any.”

The CP said the police are also writing to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to dig deep into the illegal money and properties gathered by Ghai.

It would also be checked if the agent had started travel business again in the names of other persons in the city.

Over 100 FIRs in 2018

More than 100 FIRs were registered against Nitish Ghai, his staff and family members in 2018 by the then ADCP Surendra Lamba, a rare development in Punjab. Apart from residents of Punjab, Ghai also duped people of Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, HP and J&K. He had got bail after spending considerable time in jail. Two of Ghai’s firms were mentioned in the list of illegal travel agents released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Ludhiana Tribune was the first to report the development of 105 FIRs registered against Ghai then in its columns. At present, 14 cases are under investigation in which the police are yet to complete probe, while in 86 cases, the police have submitted challan. In three cases, compromise was struck reportedly by compensating the victims of travel fraud. One travel fraud was cancelled and in one case, Ghai was acquitted by court. Ghai is out on bail presently.

Prime properties of accused and family identified by police

1. Double-storeyed house in Victoria Garden in the name of Ghai, his mother Suman and brother Munish Ghai.

2. 99 Visa Consultancy office in Ghumar Mandi.

3. Property at mohalla Gurunanak Nagar, Sundar Nagar, for registration deed of Rs 63 lakh, bought in the name of Ghai’s brother Munish.

4. SCO No. 9 and 10 MD complex Samrala Chowk bought in the name of Ghai’s brother Munish Kumar.

5. SCO No. 28 MD Complex, Samrala Chowk, bought in the name of brother.

6. Shop on main South City road near Baba Chicken, bought from Deepak Prabhakar.

7. Prime property bought from Usha Saggar by executing four registration deeds bought in name of Ghai and his brother.

8. Plot bought in 2014 in Punjabi Bagh, Maya Puri, owned by Nitish Ghai, his first wife Amandeep Kaur and father Pawan Kumar.

9. House in Hill Top Colony, Bhamian Khurd, bought in the name of Ghai’s mother Suman Bala.

10. House in Hill Top Colony, Bhamian Kalan, bought in the name of Ghai’s father Pawan Kumar.

Ghai’s offices raided by police in past

• GGI Group, Dual Complex, Gill road Ludhiana
• King Consultancy
• Blessing Consultancy, MD Complex, Samrala chowk
• 99 Visas Overseas in Ghumar Mandi

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