Elvyn Gomes (49), Director of Nagpur restaurant Port O’ Gomez, situated at North Ambazari Road, was arrested by Dhantoli Police on Tuesday for allegedly duping his partners of Rs 1.35 crore. Gomes, who’s a resident of Meghdoot Villa in Sonegoan, was arrested following a complaint by his partner Shomit Bagchi, a resident of Khamla.

As per Bagchis complaint, Gomes would often meet him and the other two directors Sumit Heda and Pankaj Rathi at Rathis office in Dhantoli. During the course of these meetings, Gomes, who used to work at a posh hotel in Ramdaspeth, convinced Bagchi, Heda and Rathi to invest in a restaurant.

In February 2012, a company called Gomez Food Art Pvt Limited was incorporated with Gomes, Bagchi, Heda and Rathi as directors with each holding 25% of equity in the company. Bagchi and Heda opened a bank account and deposited Rs 73.52 lakh in it. A bank loan of Rs 1.60 crore was then taken to purchase the land for the restaurant. Also, another loan of Rs 55 lakh was taken to build infrastructure. In all, Bagchi, Heda and Rathi invested Rs 65 lakh, Rs 45 lakh and Rs 1.77 crore respectively. The three then took a loan of Rs 2.69 crore from a finance company to repay the bank loan.

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In 2015-16, Port O? Gomez was started and Gomes, in spite of not investing any money, was made as the operating partner due to his experience in the restaurant business. The three directors have alleged that instead of depositing the earnings from the restaurant into the companys account, Gomes deposited around Rs 1.35 crore in his another account. The three men have also alleged that Gomes removed vouchers, accounts books and other documents from the restaurant.

Dhantoli Police have registered a case against Gomes under section 420 of the IPC. Gomes was presented before the court on Tuesday and has been sent to police custody for interrogation till February 21.