The Con Man of Wazirpur

It seems that there is no cessation of the IT channel defaulters; Nehru Place market is a great example but lately Wazirpur market has also joined the fray.

The IT association of Wazirpur has indicted Suresh Luthra-who runs the company Empire Infotech in Wazirpur from the last four months-of wrongdoings in his conduct of business. Two issues lie at the centre: first is the regular delay in payments, second is the sinister way of doing business like selling the products at cheaper rates in different markets.

Initially, he deals in cash payments to create a rapport in the market, says one of the members of the association and adds, "Then after some time he pays 40% percent in cash and rest through cheque, and so-on-and-so-forth decreases the amount paid in cash."

He also elaborated on the second issue wherein Luthra sell products to Chandigarh market at so-called negative rates of 7% to 10% than the market rates resulting in chaos.

These issues show the ulterior motives of Suresh Luthra, mentions this member as the idea is to dupe partners of money and then run away to a different market.

The member added that currently almost sum of Rs 15 lakh is pending from Luthra's side and warns the partners to mind this dealer. He also added that Luthra is known mischief in the markets of Chandigarh and Ambala.

As facts to be told, DQ Week gathered some amount of information and learnt that Luthra is a big defaulter in Chandigarh market to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore. He has also been a defaulter in Haryana which amounts to Rs 1 crore.

Senior vice-president of Punjab association of computer traders (PACT) and the president of Chandigarh computer association, Sanjeev Walia confirmed the issue surrounding Luthra's way of business. He is also aware of the ongoing problems of Delhi's Wazirpur market as he was apprised of the issue from partners from Delhi. He also confirms the particular modus operandi of Luthra-selling below market prices; incur losses; duping partners and compensating the loss by finally running way to a different market-and reveals that the similar problem was once faced by Chandigarh partners, two years ago.

He mentioned that a police case was registered against him in Chandigarh and finally the amount was settled. He, however, maintained that the association was unwilling to publicise the case at that point of time because the duped partners were worried of non-payment if the case was to be highlighted. He revealed that the Luthra continues to be a miscreant and repeated the same in Gurgaon market.

Even a sales manager of one of the leading IT vendors mentions that Luthra has been discontinued from its supplies citing certain irregularities.

Hayat Khan, Area Sales Manager Delhi, Aoc India says that he was apprised of the situation of 'infiltration' in other markets such as Chandigarh. He adds, "Luthra used to sell TFTs in Chandigarh in less than the market price. I myself went to Chandigarh to dig the matter further and as a result we have warned our partners not to deal with him."

He states, "Today it is Chandigarh, tomorrow he will start selling in Delhi. We want clean and profitable business for our partners."