Surat: A diamond worker alleged that a couple known to him for over a decade cheated him of Rs 39.65 lakh through a purported forex and cryptocurrency investment scheme, taking funds he got from the sale of family land and a bank loan.The complaint was registered at Ashwini Kumar police station on Tuesday.According to the FIR, Dhavin Dhaduk, 29, knew Nikhil Vekariya and his wife, Payal Vekariya, for several years. Dhaduk and Payal had attended the same tuition classes in 2013-14. Dhaduk said he and the couple jointly ran a firecracker business during Diwali.Police said the couple approached Dhaduk, proposing investment in forex trading and claimed that they had made substantial profits. To support their claims, they showed him screenshots and other details depicting gains from trading.Trusting them, Dhaduk invested money received from the sale of family property and a loan taken from HDFC Bank.Dhaduk said he first paid the couple Rs 14 lakh in Nov 2025 for forex trading. They allegedly persuaded him to increase his investment, after which he paid another Rs 13 lakh in Dec 2025.In Jan 2026, they introduced him to cryptocurrency trading through USDT and convinced him to invest Rs 8.65 lakh more.Dhaduk said the accused later created an account for him on a trading application and periodically shared screenshots showing profits whenever he sought updates on his investment.When he sought to withdraw funds, the couple delayed repayment on various pretexts. The complainant stated that he had been assured a monthly profit of Rs 1 lakh, but no such payment was made.According to the FIR, matters came to a head in March when Dhaduk contacted the couple and asked for his money back. He alleged that they refused to repay the amount and threatened him.Dhaduk said he had recorded the conversation and submitted the recording to police along with his complaint.Police registered a case of cheating and criminal intimidation under the BNS and launched an investigation.
