Five directors charged in ₹2.5 crore franchise scam

Five directors of a packed snacks company from New Delhi have been booked for allegedly swindling ₹2.5 crore from a Ludhiana businessman. The police took action after a complaint was filed by Satish Sood, a resident of Jhammat village. Sood wanted to start a franchise and first contacted the company, which asked him to pay an advance of ₹25 lakh. He later paid an additional ₹22.5 lakh, expecting to receive raw materials and trained staff. However, the company then told him that a franchise for Ludhiana alone was not possible. Instead, they advised Sood to apply for franchise rights for all of Punjab, which required a total payment of ₹2.5 crore. After paying ₹1 crore, he was promised support, but the directors ceased communication. Sood reported the issue to the police in September last year. The police have now registered a case under the Indian Penal Code for cheating and criminal breach of trust. An investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to locate the accused directors.