Mangaluru – A massive fraud has rocked Bantwal as over 50 farmers gathered at the Bantwal City Police Station today, accusing a well-known areca nut trader of swindling them out of crores and vanishing without a trace.
The accused, Naufal N., a resident of Maindal in Navoor village, owned A.B. Supari, a prominent areca nut business located in Baddakatte, Bantwal. Farmers claim he disappeared after failing to repay large sums of money owed for their produce.
According to reports, a woman farmer who approached Naufal to collect dues following her loan repayment found his shop shut and the man missing. Realizing they had all been similarly duped, dozens of farmers united to lodge formal complaints.
Naufal had earned the trust of the farming community over two to three decades. Farmers regularly sold dried areca nuts to him, and in return, he would pay them based on mutual understanding, often accommodating their financial needs.
Until recently, he had maintained a spotless record. However, this time, farmers allege he defrauded them of lakhs individually, with the total loss potentially exceeding ₹10 crore.
Shocked and betrayed, the affected farmers now await justice as the police launch a search for the absconding trader.
Read Also: