Developer from Gujarat lured into diamond trading, cheated of Rs 2.45 crore

AHMEDABAD: A 42-year-old developer from Nadiad was allegedly cheated by a Surat man of Rs 2.45 crore who lured him with profit in the business of importing rough diamonds from Africa.
Chirag Patel, a resident of Kaka na Falia in Uttarsanda, filed a complaint with Chaklasi police of Kheda on Saturday.
Chirag said in his FIR that he was introduced to the accused, Shailesh Patel, a resident of Sardarnagar Society in Surat, through a common friend named Chintan Patel in 2020.
Shailesh told Chirag that he was into the business of importing rough diamonds from Africa and selling these in the local market.
The sale of these diamonds fetched him a whopping profit, he said.
Shailesh told Chirag that if he invests in his business then he will make profit with a margin of around 20%. Shailesh said he was doing business with several leading diamond units in Surat. Chirag enquired about the same and found Shailesh's claims to be genuine.
Convinced, Chirag decided to invest in the business of rough diamonds and paid Rs 2.45 crore between March 9, 2020, and July 22, 2020. He carried out 30 transactions with 20 different account holders from Surat and Mumbai.
However, despite the investment, Chirag did not receive a single rupee. When he asked Shailesh about this, the latter did not provide satisfactory answers.
Chirag said that Shailesh has been unreachable since 2020 and his mobile is switched off. As Chirag was not able to trace him, he approached the police to inquire into the case. Chaklasi police registered a case of breach of trust against Shailesh and began an investigation.