Dehradun Builder and Wife Flee to Nepal Amid Multi-Crore Fraud; Passports Cancelled

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Notorious Dehradun-based builder Shashwat Garg, along with his wife Sakshi Garg, has reportedly fled to Nepal after allegedly defrauding investors of crores of rupees. Despite continuous monitoring, authorities were unable to apprehend the couple. Following complaints from investors, the Regional Passport Office, Dehradun, has immediately cancelled the passports of both Shashwat and Sakshi Garg.

Timeline of Events
On 17 October, Shashwat Garg visited his in-laws in Hapur and told his family he would return to Dehradun in the evening. However, both his and Sakshi’s phones went unreachable shortly afterward. Police in Hapur and Dehradun launched searches but failed to locate them.

Escape via Mumbai to Kathmandu
Investigations revealed that Shashwat left his luxury car parked in Haridwar and, on 21 October, traveled to Mumbai. From there, the couple boarded a Royal Nepal Airlines flight to Kathmandu, where they stayed in a luxury hotel.

Investors Arrive in Nepal but Miss the Couple
When investors learned of their presence in Kathmandu, some traveled overland to confront them at the hotel. Initially, hotel staff confirmed the couple was staying there, but when the investors refused to speak with them, Shashwat and Sakshi had checked out the next day and vanished.

Legal Action Initiated
Based on investor complaints, the Rajpur Police Station has filed an FIR against Shashwat Garg, Sakshi Garg, and other family members for fraud and criminal breach of trust. The registry for their project on Thanon Road has also been blocked. Recognizing the case’s gravity, IG Garhwal has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to pursue the investigation rigorously.

Passports Cancelled by Authorities
Following the SIT report and written complaints from investors, the Regional Passport Office in Dehradun officially confirmed the immediate cancellation of the passports of Shashwat and Sakshi Garg. Passports for other family members, issued from Ghaziabad, are under review, and their status remains unclear.