BEML CMD case: Prime accused Ghotage absconding

The Malleswaram police, which is investigating a cheating case involving three persons, including Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) CMD, have launched a search to catch the main accused Prasanna V Ghotage, who is currently absconding.

BEML CMD VRS Natarajan, along with Ghotage (a Belgaum-based trader and exporter) and Vaman Kumar (CEO of Pune-based Nordbell Commercial Ltd) have been accused of cheating a city-based Dreams Logistics India Private Ltd to the tune of Rs 35 crore in iron ore trade.

The police said that Vaman Kumar is also absconding.

“We need to first question accused Ghotage to know what happened with the complainant in the iron ore deal. So, we tried to take him into custody, but he and his family members are absconding. He is not answering to our calls or text messages,” an investigative officer said.

Police investigations also revealed that Ghotage was an accused in similar cases in Yellapura and Sirsi. A police team has gone there to collect his previous cases details. Ghotage is also involved in cheating cases in Goa and Chhattisgarh.

The investigation officer said that once they catch Ghotage, they will come to know how BEML and its chief got involved in the cheating case.

The FIR against the trio was registered on April 14. Earlier, Dreams Logistics MD Vivek Hebbar had filed a ‘private complaint’ in the seventh ACMM court, which directed the police to investigate the matter.