Who was Natvarlal?
Natvarlal was born in 1912 in Bihar, India. He grew up in poverty and had little formal education, but he was a quick learner and had a natural talent for deception. Natvarlal began his career as a small-time con artist, but he quickly rose to infamy thanks to his audacious schemes and his ability to elude the law.
Natvarlal's Scams
Over the course of his life, Natvarlal conducted a wide range of scams, many of which were incredibly elaborate and involved multiple layers of deception. One of his most famous scams involved the Taj Mahal, one of India's most iconic landmarks.
In the mid-1970s, Natvarlal approached a wealthy businessman named Harshad Mehta and convinced him to invest in a fake replica of the Taj Mahal. Natvarlal claimed that he had been commissioned by the Indian government to create a new Taj Mahal that would be used as a cultural center and tourist attraction.
Mehta was initially skeptical, but Natvarlal was able to convince him by showing him a miniature model of the proposed replica, along with fake documents that supposedly proved the government's involvement. Mehta ultimately invested more than 3 crore rupees (around $5 million at the time) in the project.
However, the replica was never built, and Mehta soon realized that he had been scammed. He filed a police complaint against Natvarlal, but the fraudster was already on the run. Natvarlal was able to evade the law for years, using a variety of disguises and aliases to avoid detection.
Other Scams
Natvarlal was born in 1912 in Bihar, India. He grew up in poverty and had little formal education, but he was a quick learner and had a natural talent for deception. Natvarlal began his career as a small-time con artist, but he quickly rose to infamy thanks to his audacious schemes and his ability to elude the law.
Natvarlal's Scams
Over the course of his life, Natvarlal conducted a wide range of scams, many of which were incredibly elaborate and involved multiple layers of deception. One of his most famous scams involved the Taj Mahal, one of India's most iconic landmarks.
In the mid-1970s, Natvarlal approached a wealthy businessman named Harshad Mehta and convinced him to invest in a fake replica of the Taj Mahal. Natvarlal claimed that he had been commissioned by the Indian government to create a new Taj Mahal that would be used as a cultural center and tourist attraction.
Mehta was initially skeptical, but Natvarlal was able to convince him by showing him a miniature model of the proposed replica, along with fake documents that supposedly proved the government's involvement. Mehta ultimately invested more than 3 crore rupees (around $5 million at the time) in the project.
However, the replica was never built, and Mehta soon realized that he had been scammed. He filed a police complaint against Natvarlal, but the fraudster was already on the run. Natvarlal was able to evade the law for years, using a variety of disguises and aliases to avoid detection.
Other Scams
- The Taj Mahal scam was just one of many that Natvarlal conducted over the course of his life.
- He also conducted a wide range of other scams, including: The sale of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the Indian president, to a group of foreign investors.
- The sale of the Red Fort, a historic fort in Delhi, to a businessman named Ramesh Chandra.
- The sale of the Howrah Bridge, a landmark bridge in Kolkata, to a group of foreign investors.
Natvarlal was able to conduct these scams thanks to his skill at forging documents and convincing his victims of his authenticity. He was also known for his ability to impersonate government officials, using fake ID cards and other documents to lend credibility to his schemes.
The End of Natvarlal
Despite his many scams, Natvarlal was eventually caught by the law. In 1996, he was arrested in Kolkata and charged with multiple counts of fraud. He was sentenced to 113 years in prison, although he only served a fraction of that time thanks to his advanced age and deteriorating health. Natvarlal died in 2009 at the age of 96.
Conclusion
Natvarlal was one of India's most notorious fraudsters, a man who was able to convince his victims of the authenticity of his schemes through a combination of forgery, deception, and impersonation. His scams, which involved some of India's most iconic landmarks and institutions, continue to be remembered to this day as some of the most audacious in Indian history. Although Natvarlal is no longer with us, his legacy lives on as a cautionary tale of the dangers of greed and deception. It is a reminder that even the most seemingly secure institutions and landmarks can be vulnerable to fraud and that it is important to always be vigilant and wary of those who may seek to take advantage. Natvarlal's life may have been defined by his scams, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty, integrity, and trust in our everyday lives.
The End of Natvarlal
Despite his many scams, Natvarlal was eventually caught by the law. In 1996, he was arrested in Kolkata and charged with multiple counts of fraud. He was sentenced to 113 years in prison, although he only served a fraction of that time thanks to his advanced age and deteriorating health. Natvarlal died in 2009 at the age of 96.
Conclusion
Natvarlal was one of India's most notorious fraudsters, a man who was able to convince his victims of the authenticity of his schemes through a combination of forgery, deception, and impersonation. His scams, which involved some of India's most iconic landmarks and institutions, continue to be remembered to this day as some of the most audacious in Indian history. Although Natvarlal is no longer with us, his legacy lives on as a cautionary tale of the dangers of greed and deception. It is a reminder that even the most seemingly secure institutions and landmarks can be vulnerable to fraud and that it is important to always be vigilant and wary of those who may seek to take advantage. Natvarlal's life may have been defined by his scams, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty, integrity, and trust in our everyday lives.