Surat: Asian Games gold medallist and Gujarat Police member Sarita Gayakwad has alleged that she was cheated of Rs 69 lakh that she invested in a sand supply business, from which she was promised high monthly returns.Police booked Nitin Bharti, a resident of Borkhadi village in Vyara taluka of Tapi district, at Ahwa police station on Thursday, based on Gayakwad’s complaint and a preliminary inquiry.According to the FIR, Gayakwad met Bharti through a common friend in Sep 2024. Bharti claimed that he ran a large sand supply business and offered her an investment opportunity with promised monthly returns of 4%. The complaint states that he held several meetings with her to persuade her to invest.Believing the assurances, Gayakwad transferred money through multiple electronic transactions to bank accounts specified by Bharti between Sep 2024 and Feb 2025, the FIR states.When she later sought her share of the promised profits, the accused did not make any payments and kept telling her that she would be paid shortly.Repeated follow-ups failed to yield the promised returns or repayment of the investment. After efforts to recover the money were unsuccessful, she submitted an application to the police, after which the FIR was registered, officials said.“Police registered an FIR against the accused and he will be arrested soon,” said Dang SP Pooja Yadav.Gayakwad was part of India’s women’s 4x400m relay team, along with M R Poovamma, Hima Das and V K Vismaya, which won gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.The state govt later awarded her Rs 1 crore and offered her a DSP post in recognition of her sporting achievements. Sources said she is yet to complete the required training for appointment as an officer but and continues to serve as a member of the police force.
