Pune Crime: Ocean Traders Owners Booked For Allegedly Cheating Spice Merchants Of Crores
Pune Crime: Ocean Traders Owners Booked For Allegedly Cheating Spice Merchants Of Crores
Pune, June 5, 2026: Swargate Police have registered a cheating case against the owners of Ocean Traders, a Salisbury Park-based firm, for allegedly defrauding several traders of crores of rupees by purchasing large quantities of cumin and other spice products on credit and subsequently shutting down their business premises.
The complaint was filed by Pravin Pandurang Metkute (50), a resident of Dhayari and proprietor of Mediwell Remedies, a business dealing in Ayurvedic raw materials and spices. Based on his complaint, police have booked Farhan Akhtar Khan, his brother Irfan Khan, and another individual identified as “Chacha,” all associated with Ocean Traders.
According to police, the alleged fraud took place between March 3 and April 3, 2026, at the firm’s office in Salisbury Park.
Investigators said Metkute sources raw materials and spices from markets in Mumbai, Vashi, Unjha in Gujarat and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh before supplying them to wholesale traders. Farhan and Irfan Khan reportedly approached him with an order for five tonnes of cumin. Due to intense competition in the market, Metkute supplied the consignment without seeking an advance payment.
The first consignment was worth ₹10.94 lakh. After making a partial payment, the accused allegedly placed another order for 10 tonnes of cumin and assured the complainant that all outstanding dues would be cleared together. Acting on this assurance, Metkute supplied an additional 3.5 tonnes of cumin worth ₹10.36 lakh.
When he later demanded payment of ₹12.86 lakh, including pending dues from the earlier consignment, Farhan Khan allegedly informed him that a cheque from a client was expected to clear on April 17 and promised payment thereafter.
However, subsequent attempts to contact the accused failed as their phones were switched off. When Metkute visited the Ocean Traders office, he found it locked. He was later informed that Farhan Khan was undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital, but no further contact could be established.
The complaint further alleges that several other traders from Pune, Indore, Ahmedabad, Patan, Delhi, Sangli and Karnataka may have also been cheated in a similar manner. The collective losses are believed to run into several crores of rupees.
Among the alleged victims are traders and firms including Laz Forms and Traders, Gajanand Company of Indore, Asopa Sons of Kondhwa, A.M. Kagdod & Sons of Karnataka, Gaurai Agrotech of Sangli, Satyayani India Pvt. Ltd. of Ahmedabad, Patliputra Super Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Sachin Impex Trading of Delhi.
Police suspect that after collecting goods on credit from multiple suppliers, the accused shut down their office and disappeared without settling payments.
Assistant Police Inspector Shirsat is conducting further investigations into the case. Authorities are also examining whether additional traders have been affected and the total financial losses involved in the alleged fraud.
