Beed: A sugarcane harvesting contractor from Khadki, Wadwani, Maharashtra has alleged that he was cheated of Rs 22.8 lakh after being promised labourers and vehicles for sugarcane harvesting work linked to a sugar mill in Karnataka, police said.
The complainant, Ramkisan Shankar Chole, works as a contractor who arranges labourers for sugarcane harvesting. For the 2021–22 crushing season, he had signed an agreement with Shri Basaveshwar Sugars to supply workers and vehicles for harvesting operations.
According to the complaint, the sugar mill had transferred Rs 22.8 lakh to Chole’s bank account as payment for the work.
During this period, Sudhakar Bhanudas Rathod from Majalgaon, Maharashtra approached Chole claiming that he had two labour groups consisting of 32 workers along with two vehicles and could supply them for the harvesting work.
Believing the offer, Chole entered into a notarised agreement with Rathod and transferred the entire amount to his account through RTGS and cheques.
However, Rathod allegedly failed to provide the labourers and vehicles as promised. Despite repeated requests, he neither arranged the workers nor returned the money, police said.
Chole also alleged that Rathod began threatening him when he demanded the money back.
After realising that he had been cheated, Chole approached the police in Wadwani, Maharashtra and filed a complaint.
Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Sudhakar Bhanudas Rathod. The investigation is being carried out by police constable Ashok Kedar.
