Mumbai: Probe reveals Dilip Chhabria's transactions with builder's son

Car designer Dilip Chhabria at Esplanade Court in Azad Maidan. File pic

Further investigation into the illegal vehicle registrations carried out by DC Designs owner and car designer Dilip Chhabria by the Crime Branch has revealed some suspicious transactions between him and Rishabh Gowani, son of a well-known builder Ramesh Gowani. The Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Crime Branch has summoned Gowani today for questioning in the matter.

According to a senior CB officer, Chhabria's company had bought a Porsche Panamera worth R2.5 crore from a Delhi car dealer in 2017. The company borrowed the money from a private finance firm to buy the car. However, Chhabria's son Bonito used the car for the next three years either without registering it or on the basis of a fake registration, which the cops are yet to find out.

However, towards the end of 2019, DC Designs went bankrupt and the authority concerned started valuing the company's assets. Around that time the company registered the car with the Regional Transport Department in Himachal Pradesh. The car was valued at R60 lakh and sold off at the same price.

In June last year, Bonito's wife Anushree Chhabria deposited R60 lakh in the account of one Rajiv Arora, which the cops found out after probing the company's financial transactions. Later, Arora sent the money back to Gowani, who again deposited it in DC Design's account. The officer further said that the chain of transfers led to a suspicion regarding re-purchase of the car over three years without proper registration.

The CIU has sent a notice to Gowani under Section 160 of the CRPC Act. Speaking to mid-day, Assistant Police Inspector, Sachin Waje said, "We have sent a notice to Gowani and he has been called for questioning on Thursday." However, when mid-day contacted Gowani for a comment, he refused to give one.

Rs 60 lakh
Price at which Chhabria sold R2.5L car in 2 years