Surat: The Sarthana police have booked the principal of a school run by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allegedly cheating a construction contractor of ₹1.70 crore by luring him with promises of high returns in govt supply tenders.According to the complaint, Ravji Kabaria (60), a Surat-based construction contractor, was approached in 2024 by his friend Ajit Patel, who told him that another acquaintance, Sanjay Patel, earned substantial profits by supplying stationery and sports kits through Gujarat govt tenders. Ajit also informed Kabaria that Sanjay Patel was the principal of the SMC-run Suman School in Kosad.Ajit later arranged a meeting between Kabaria and Sanjay on Feb 3, 2024, during which Sanjay allegedly offered Kabaria lucrative returns on investments. To gain his trust, Sanjay is alleged to have created fake tender documents. When the promised amount was not returned, Kabaria lodged a complaint, following which the case was transferred to the Economic Offences Cell (EOC) for investigation.Kabaria alleged that Sanjay Patel claimed to own a firm, Jogmaya Stationery, in the Mota Varachha area and showed him a letter purportedly issued by the Gujarat Council of School Education dated Jan 20, 2024. Patel allegedly promised a 25% profit and assured Kabaria that the invested amount would be returned once government bills were cleared.Between Feb and April 2024, Kabaria reportedly invested multiple amounts totalling Rs 1.70 crore for different tenders, based on written assurances from Patel promising repayment with profit. While Patel later paid Rs 23 lakh as partial profit, he allegedly failed to return the remaining amount and eventually stopped responding to calls.On verifying the documents, Kabaria discovered that the tender letter was forged and falsely issued in the name of the Gujarat State School Textbook Board, police said.Police have arrested Ajit Patel and Sanjay Patel’s father, Babu Patel, as co-accused in the case. A case has been registered against Sanjay Patel for cheating and forgery
