In a dramatic twist surrounding the Rs 1.01 crore iPhone 16 procurement scam, authorities have arrested a key suspect while another remains in custody as bail pleas are turned down.
Sanjay Pradhan, a 61-year-old commission agent connected to a Powai-based mobile store, was finally taken into custody by the MRA Marg police after evading arrest for weeks. This follows the Sessions Court’s refusal of his anticipatory bail plea. The arrest came after he was linked to the diversion of a massive consignment of iPhones.
The iPhone saga began when Shahabaj Ali Shaikh approached businessman Merchant, Director of Advanced Trends India Private Limited, with an enticing offer — Apple iPhone 16 units at a discounted rate of Rs 68000 per piece. The deal, allegedly backed by a letterhead from ‘MAPLE’, a reputed Apple retail outlet, convinced Merchant to place an order for 150 units. An advance payment of Rs 1.01 crore was transferred to the store’s official bank account, as per a Pro Forma Invoice reportedly signed by the store manager Ibrahim Ansari.
Trouble began when the promised iPhone never arrived. Investigators uncovered that handsets worth Rs 91 lakh had been redirected to third-party vendors such as Alka Enterprises, completely bypassing the original buyer. Deven Lalji Devda, another associate tied to Pradhan, is already in custody and faces similar charges.
Ibrahim Ansari, accused of playing a pivotal role, had his bail request rejected by the Magistrate’s Court. Evidence indicates internal misconduct and a breach of trust. Email trails and financial records reveal a clear pattern of deliberate evasion, with no communication sent to the victim post-payment, while the goods were quietly moved elsewhere. The authorities have now frozen one of the key bank accounts involved, preserving approximately Rs 90 lakh in it.
As the investigation deepens, what seemed like a high-value tech deal has turned into a cautionary tale of deception and broken trust in the digital age.
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