Pankaj Chimanlal lodhiya, a Rajkot-based bullion trader, whose name appeared in the affidavit submitted by the Government of India to the Supreme Court for allegedly hoarding black money in illegal accounts abroad, claims that he doesn’t have an account in foreign banks and is shocked over reading his name in the affidavit.
Till Sunday, the low profile bullion trader was hardly known into the business circle in Rajkot, but as soon as his name was announced with seven other high profile business magnates, including Pradeep Burman, director of Dabur India limited and Radha Timblo, director of a Goa based mining firm Timblo Pvt ltd, lodhiya instantly became famous not only in Saurashtra region but across the country.
Ever since news on Pankaj started flashing on various media on Monday morning, his jewellery shop ‘Shreeji’ situated in the upmarket Soni Bazaar and his bungalow ‘Sarthak’ in the posh locality of Diwanpara area became most visited places in Rajkot.
The promoter of Shreeji Trading Company founded in the year 1997 for bullion trading, 46-year-old lodhiya also has business interest in jewellery and real estate through his two other firms – Shreeji Ornaments Pvt. ltd and Shreeji Reality.
“My family is in bullion and jewellery business since years. Over a decade I am dealing in bullion across the country. We import gold and silver and trade it to showrooms and jewellery manufacturers in the various parts of India,” said lodhiya, claiming that he doesn’t have Swiss bank account. On the contrary, he asserted that accounts of the leading politicians should be checked as he is nothing compared to those people who might be in the list of black money parking in foreign banks.
lodhiya further claimed that he also faced Income Tax raids in the past and didn’t hesitate to declare everything as his accounts are clear and official. “Every time we faced queries, we replied satisfactorily to the Government. Despite my cooperation, my name has come up in the affidavit, I believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the step in the right direction and I am willing to cooperate with any Government authority and prepare to divulge all the details in the purview of law,” he added.
He, however, said that he would take advice of his counsels in legal procedure. Apart from Rajkot, lodhiya has offices in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad, Vijayavada, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kochi and Begluru.
Pakaj’s company ‘Shreeji Realty’ has developed eight big projects in Rajkot that include residential as well as commercial properties. He is also known for his luxurious lifestyle in his circle of goldsmiths. Apart from his palatial bungalow ‘Sarthak’, he also has fleet of luxurious cars and properties in various cities across the country.
In the past a police complaint has also been lodged against lodhiya for allegedly encroaching a residential property. The complaint was lodged by a former employee of Rajkot Municipal Corporation Jayendra Pandya, said a source in the police department.