15 December,2023 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
The police concluded that the couple was entirely unrelated to the case. File pic
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In a major flip-flop after six months, the Madhya Pradesh police have given a clean chit to the Goregaon-based Mehta couple, who they had initially booked for drug trafficking following the arrest of a peddler who had confessed to working for them. The police have also excluded Ashesh Mehta, founder of Bliss Consultant, and his wife Shivangi Mehta, the director of operations, from the charge sheet filed by Khaniyadhana police in Madhya Pradesh.
After the investigation, the police concluded that the couple was entirely unrelated to the case at hand. It was revealed that the arrested individual falsely implicated them, motivated by personal rivalry, for reasons known only to him.
The 105-page charge sheet, filed in the Shivpuri sessions court on December 3 by the Khaniyadhana police, documents statements from 13 police personnel, including eyewitnesses. It reveals the recovery of drugs from the arrested accused, Nisar Zubair Khan. During interrogation, he allegedly implicated the Mehta couple, even identifying them at Aarey police station in Mumbai in the presence of Mumbai cops.
Accused claimed that the Mehta couple used to come in a car to supply drugs to him. File pic
However, despite the identification, technical analysis of mobile Call Detail Records (CDR) and CCTV footage found no connection between Khan and the Mehta couple. Even the statement of the complaining police inspector and station in-charge, Dhanendra Singh Bhadoriya of Khaniyadhana, exonerated the Mehta couple in the alleged plan.
Bhadoriya, speaking with mid-day, said, "Even though I am no longer tasked with investigating this case due to my transfer, the responsibility was passed on to a higher-ranking officer. Based on the investigation I conducted before my transfer, it became evident that the Mehta couple was innocent and had been wrongly accused of a deliberate conspiracy."
This revelation surfaced when the accused, Khan, claimed that the Mehta couple used to come in a car to supply drugs to him. However, during investigation, it was found that Ashesh did not even know how to drive the car.
Mehta's advocate, Hemant Ingle, added, "My clients are under severe threats of false prosecution, and their family is being threatened with arrests by investors from Punjab. Ashesh Mehta's father was falsely implicated and arrested in a criminal case by an investor, despite knowing that there is a directive by the honourable high court to freeze the account."
Message to his investors
Following the charge sheet, Ashesh sent a voice message to his investors addressing various concerns. He apologised for the delay in communication since the NDPS case charges were filed on December 4. He clarified that they were cleared of the charges.
Ashesh revealed that approximately 150 FIRs have been registered against him, freezing his bank accounts, credit cards, and trading accounts since June. He attributed this to efforts to safeguard investor funds from a company named Denron. Ashesh assured investors that their funds are secure, stating that an affidavit filed in the Bombay High Court mentions that the funds belong to investors and will be returned once they get clearance from the court. He also explained that quarterly settlement amounts were not credited due to the freezing of trading and demat accounts by police authorities.
He also mentioned over 300 withdrawal requests were made before the account was frozen, including 20 of his family members, and 280 investors received their money back. He expressed distress over the illegal arrest of his father, asserting his father's lack of connection with Bliss Consultant. He accused Varis Singhal of a personal attack and urged him to withdraw the case and bail out his father.
Reporters attempted to reach the Mehta couple's residence in Goregaon. Ashesh declined to speak over the intercom, despite the reporter identifying themselves and their media organisation.
He also declined an in-person meeting.
Alleged courier link to the Mehta couple
The Khaniyadhana police in Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh, arrested Nisaar Zubair Khan, a 39-year-old Miraroad resident, on June 9. They confiscated 142 grams of Mephedrone (MD) worth R17 lakh and a silver Santro car from him, subsequently a case was filed.
During investigations, Khan claimed to act as a courier unaware of the packet's contents. He stated that Shivangi Mehta and her husband Ashesh provided him with the parcel. Khan admitted to working for the couple for a few years, receiving parcels and a new mobile phone with a fresh SIM card. Instructions for delivery addresses came from the Mehtas, and after each task, Khan disposed of the phone and SIM card.
On June 6, Ashish reportedly summoned Khan to his location and handed over the parcel for delivery to Chanderi town in Madhya Pradesh. Ashesh Mehta and his wife were engaged in trading and managing investments through Bliss Consultant.
Dec 4
Day NDPS charges were filed against Mehtas
