The Katargam police have registered a case against two owners of a local diamond unit for allegedly failing to pay workers’ salaries and promised bonuses before Diwali. The accused, Amit Virani and Viren Virani, reportedly launched a scheme in July, assuring workers that those who refrained from withdrawing their salaries until Diwali would receive a special bonus.
According to the complaint, nine employees opted into the scheme and chose not to withdraw their salaries, amounting to Rs 10.41 lakh. However, as the Diwali season approached, one of the owners allegedly closed the office and left the city without disbursing the pending salaries and bonuses. This led the workers to seek police intervention.
The complaint, filed by diamond worker Nikunj Soni, revealed that Soni had been employed at the Virani Diamond firm in Katargam for two years and had been receiving his salary based on the amount of work completed. In July, Soni withdrew Rs 60,000 in wages, following which he and his colleagues were informed of the bonus scheme for employees who deferred their withdrawals until Diwali. Soni, along with eight others – Ajay Chauhan, Jayveer Dabhi, Brijesh Tejani, Vishal Sakariya, Jayesh Prajapati, Pradip Prajapati, Anil Giri and Anish Prajapati – participated in the scheme.
Before the Diwali holidays commenced on October 16, the firm’s management instructed the workers to collect their wages and bonuses on October 20. However, when they arrived, they found the office shut. They later learnt through a co-worker, Dilip, that Amit Virani had left the city. The employees then proceeded to the Virani residence, where they encountered Viren Virani, who allegedly threatened and verbally abused them, warning he would inflict harm if they continued pursuing the matter.
The workers, shaken but undeterred, subsequently filed a complaint at the Katargam police station when attempts to contact the owners went unanswered. Based on their complaint, Katargam police booked the Virani brothers under sections 316(2), 352, 351(3) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering charges of breach of trust, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of trust.
Katargam police have formed search teams to locate the accused, who are believed to have ties to Bhavnagar district.
Also Read: PM Modi To Visit Gujarat On Oct 30-31 To Participate In Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Celebrations
