From ₹251 Dream to ₹41 Lakh Nightmare: The Scam Trail of Mohit Goel

New Delhi, India – Once hailed as the man who promised to revolutionize India’s smartphone industry, Mohit Goel, founder and former managing director of Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd., has become a familiar name in police files across multiple states. From the widely publicized Freedom 251 smartphone scam to his more recent arrests in cases involving dry fruit trade frauds and criminal extortion, Goel’s downfall has been marked by controversy, deception, and over 35 criminal cases registered across the country. The ₹251 Smartphone That Shocked the Nation In February 2016, Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd., a Noida-based startup, launched the Freedom 251, claiming it to be the world’s cheapest smartphone at just ₹251. The phone was marketed as a breakthrough under the "Make in India" initiative, promising access to digital services for the underprivileged. The website received an overwhelming response—over 7 crore registrations in a matter of days. However, only 30,000 prepaid orders were reportedly processed before the company suspended online bookings. Following public outcry and scrutiny from the government and IT experts, Ringing Bells issued refunds and switched to a cash-on-delivery model. Despite their promises, only a few thousand units—most of them non-functional or dummy handsets—were ever delivered. Soon after, the company faced allegations of fraud, and BJP MP Kirit Somaiya filed a formal complaint, terming the venture a “Ponzi scheme.” Dry Fruit Scam: ₹41 Lakh Fraud Uncovered In August 2021, Goel was arrested again—this time by the Uttar Pradesh Police in Greater Noida—for allegedly cheating dry fruit suppliers of over ₹41 lakh. According to the police report, Goel placed large orders for dry fruits under different business names, paid small initial amounts, and defaulted on the remaining payment after receiving the stock. Multiple vendors from states including Delhi, Rajasthan, and Gujarat filed FIRs alleging similar patterns of fraud. Extortion and Criminal Conspiracy: A Fake Rape Case for ₹5 Crore In a further twist, Delhi Police arrested Mohit Goel in January 2024 on charges of criminal conspiracy and extortion. Investigations revealed that Goel allegedly plotted with others to file a false rape case against a businessman, demanding ₹5 crore to “settle” the matter. Police said the case was part of a larger scheme to trap high-net-worth individuals and extort money by misusing legal threats. A Trail of 35+ FIRs Across India Police records show that Goel is named in over 35 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and other states. Charges range from cheating (IPC 420), criminal breach of trust (IPC 406), extortion, and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B), to offenses under the Information Technology Act. Despite being granted bail in some cases, Goel has faced repeated arrests for new and ongoing complaints. Law enforcement agencies describe him as a "habitual fraudster" who operated under various business identities to avoid detection. The Unraveling of a Tech Dream Mohit Goel's journey from an aspiring entrepreneur to a serial offender stands as a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition and the consequences of exploiting public trust. Once seen as a visionary who could bridge the digital divide in India, he now faces a long list of legal battles that continue to unfold in courts across the country. While the Freedom 251 phone is now remembered as one of India's biggest tech hoaxes, Mohit Goel’s legal troubles remain far from over. Year-Wise Legal Timeline of Mohit Goel 2016 February: Launched the Freedom 251 at ₹251. Website recorded over 7 crore registrations, but only 30,000 prepaid orders taken before bookings stopped. Refunds were issued, and only a few thousand (mostly non-functional) units delivered timesofindia.indiatimes.com +13 en.wikipedia.org +13 reddit.com +13 . March–April: FIR filed under IPC 420 and IT Act after MP Kirit Somaiya called it a “Ponzi scheme.” Allahabad High Court stayed the FIR en.wikipedia.org +1 en.wikipedia.org +1 . 2017 February 24: Mohit Goel detained in Ghaziabad for alleged fraud (₹16 lakh owed to Ghaziabad supplier Ayam Enterprises) en.wikipedia.org . June: Arrested again by Delhi Police for alleged extortion in a rape-related case opindia.com +7 en.wikipedia.org +7 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +7 . 2021 January: Noida Police arrested Goel in a large dry-fruits fraud. He ran multiple firms like Dubai Dry Fruits & Spices Hub; between ₹200 crore worth of fraud was alleged, with complaints from numerous states en.wikipedia.org +12 businesstoday.in +12 opindia.com +12 . February 28: Additional arrest of accomplices; custody extended. 40+ FIRs filed across Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh . June 4: Supreme Court granted interim bail for 60 days in connection with ₹200 crore dry-fruits case, citing his three-year-old daughter’s medical condition themobileindian.com +5 indialegallive.com +5 businesstoday.in +5 . August 19–25: Arrested again in Greater Noida over a fresh ₹41 lakh dry-fruits fraud involving victim Vikas Mittal. The FIR included charges under IPC 420, 384, 386, 323, 504, 506, 307, 120B timesofindia.indiatimes.com +6 opindia.com +6 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +6 . 2023 July: Noida Police attached ₹60 lakh of his assets (including an Audi and gold) under Gangster Act provisions tied to the dry-fruit scam themobileindian.com +2 etvbharat.com +2 opindia.com +2 . 2024 January: Arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly staging a fake rape case to extort ₹5 crore from a businessman. Charged under extortion and criminal conspiracy laws (IPC 120B) . 2025 (Current Status) Named in 35+ FIRs across multiple states for offences that include cheating (IPC 420), criminal breach of trust (IPC 406), extortion, conspiracy, and IT Act violations . Has faced multiple arrests and interim bail rulings. Some cases still ongoing, no major public verdicts as of mid‑2025.