Surat: A 45-year-old businessman has lodged a police complaint against his friend, a private bank employee, alleging that he cheated him and his family members of Rs 55 lakh by carrying out unauthorised transactions from multiple bank accounts without their knowledge.According to the FIR registered on Saturday, the complainant said he had known the accused, Hasmukh Baldaniya (30), for several years and trusted him with financial matters. The accused gained access to the bank account details of the complainant and his family members, including his wife, brother and daughter.The complainant stated that in 2024, Baldaniya offered to assist him with banking-related transactions. Taking advantage of their friendship and the trust placed in him, the accused obtained access to multiple bank accounts and carried out several unauthorised transactions.Between March 1, 2024, and April 7 this year, money was transferred through various banking channels, including NEFT, RTGS, UPI, cheques and other online transactions, into accounts controlled by the accused.The complainant said he later noticed discrepancies in the bank accounts and confronted Baldaniya. However, the accused failed to return the money.The total amount siphoned off from the accounts of the complainant and his family members is estimated at around Rs 55 lakh.Following the complaint, police registered an FIR under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation.
