BJP Functionary Kalpesh Darbar Named in Mumbai Gold Cheating FIR, Not Arrested Four Months After Case Filed

A senior BJP functionary named in a gold cheating case involving Zaveri Bazaar jewellers and alleged losses of more than Rs 20 crore has not been arrested, nearly four months after an FIR was registered against him and his associates. Kalpesh Darbar, the BJP’s general secretary for the North-East constituency, has continued to attend party rallies and campaign for candidates in other states, including in civic polls in Udaipur, Rajasthan, even as the police investigate the allegations.

The police arrested one of the accused, Manish Jain, on October 28. However, jewellers allege that when Darbar was called to the police station for questioning, he was allowed to leave following intervention by BJP leaders. Party MLA Mihir Kotecha, whom the jewellers have accused of intervening, has denied the allegation.

The jewellers have questioned why Darbar continues to hold a party post despite being named in the case. They allege that the police investigation has been slow, despite submitting vouchers, bank records, GST documents and WhatsApp conversations as evidence.

The case was registered at Shivaji Nagar police station on July 22 under Sections 318 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, following complaints of alleged cheating through gold transactions.