Ahmedabad: A textile trader from Nikol has accused the owner of an Indore-based travel firm of cheating him of Rs 11.3 lakh after allegedly changing the cost of a proposed Bali tour several times and failing to confirm flight and hotel bookings.
The travel firm owner subsequently quoted Rs 90,000 per person, which the complainant said he accepted. On May 7, the travel firm owner sent screenshots of two flights for June 17 and asked the trader to book tickets, the complaint stated. On May 16, the travel firm owner allegedly quoted Rs 93,000 per person for the original 40 participants and Rs 1.05 lakh for the remaining 28.
Because of the US-Iran conflict, the original departure date of May 31, 2026, was postponed to June 13. However, the trader alleged that the travel firm failed to provide confirmed flight tickets and hotel bookings despite repeated requests. The trader then decided to cancel the tour and sought a refund of the advance through calls and emails.
He alleged that the travel firm owner neither responded to his requests nor returned the money.
The 41-year-old complainant, a partner in a textile trading firm in Shahibaug, lodged a complaint with Madhavpura police on Oct 11 against the owner of the Indore travel firm and others whose roles may emerge during the investigation. The trader contacted the travel firm owner in July 2025 through another trader in Indore to organise a six-night, seven-day Bali tour for 40 customers, according to the complaint. On Sept 20, 2025, the travel firm owner sent a package quotation of Rs 76,000 per person. The parties finalised the arrangement for 40 people at a total cost of Rs 30.4 lakh. The complainant transferred Rs 11.3 lakh in four instalments between Oct 31, 2025, and Jan 7, 2026, from his firm’s bank account to the travel company’s account, the complaint stated.
The package included return flights from Ahmedabad, five-star hotel accommodation, meals, sightseeing and entry fees.