Self-styled godman arrested for financial fraud

Police have arrested a 41-year-old self-styled 'godman' and his associate for allegedly duping several investors to the tune of Rs 2 crore by luring them to invest in his company for high monthly return.
According to the police, the self-proclaimed godman floated a finance company, Bullish Aura Financial Services (India) Limited, in Kalkaji area.
The accused started attracting investors by assuring a 4 to 6 per cent return on investments per month. But after collecting a huge amount from several villagers of Haryana, the impostor closed his company and became godman.
According to police, the accused, identified as Jaidev Kohli, was preaching among his followers posing as Baba Kamal Nayan Vashisht. His company was being operated by his close aide Mridul Chauhan, who has also been arrested by the police.

However, police are trying to nab other associates who are still at large. Police said Kohli completed his MBA degree in finance and marketing from IGNOU in 2007. Then he started working with some multinational companies before floating his own finance company.
But as his company went in losses, Kohli became a godman and started a religious trust by the name Kamal Nayan Foundation and began cheating his innocent followers by enticing them for donations.

Police said his arrest came following investigation into a cheating case filed last year at Kalkaji police station by one Nahar Singh from Haryana's Rewari. Singh told police that in 2012 he and 18 other people from Rewari and Jhajjar were convinced and enticed by Dashrath Chauhan and his son Mirdual Chauhan, residents Rewari, to invest money in the firm.

"The company's employees used to bring the investors to Delhi in their cars to show the office... Villagers initially made small investments and got high interest return. After winning their faith, the company directors persuaded them to invest heavy amounts," a senior officer said.
"Villagers invested large amount of money and even sold their land for it. The total investment was around Rs 2 crore and the company in return issued post dated cheques which got dishonoured. Later, the company closed their operation and directors went into hiding," the officer said.
According to the police they tracked the fake godman's movement through his trust's Facebook page and it was learnt that a two-hour meditation programme was organised by him in Dwarka's Samalkha on April 14.

"He initially tried to mislead the police by claiming himself to be Kamal Nayan Vashisht. Our team confronted him with his driving license where his name was mentioned as Jaidev Kohli. He finally confessed to his crime and was arrested on Friday," the officer said.