Spice trader duped of Rs 23 lakh in clove deal

The police said in August 2010, an agent named Garg and his son Piyush offered Sanklecha a deal for good quality cloves from Kenya-based firm Anchal International Limited at low prices. “They showed him photographs of the samples and made him speak to Sunil Bhavarlal Mantri in Kenya who posed as director of the firm. Then they asked him to deposit Rs 23,42,997 in a kenyan bank account in dollars,” said V J Bhujbal, API, Yerawada.

Sanklecha deposited the amount in three installment and was assured that he will get his consignment of cloves soon. But even after months he did not get. “Sanklecha said that he has repeatedly contacted the Mantri over phone who kept on assuring him that he will get it in some time. He also contacted Garg who said that his job, as middleman, was limited till setting up the deal,” said the police.

A few days ago, Sanklecha came to know that Mantri was in Mumbai. He informed the police who arrested him from his residence in Borivali. Mantri was produced before magistrate on Sunday which granted police custody till January 31.

“Mantri has confessed to the crime. We want to nab his two aides who worked as

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