Surat: A 30-year-old GST inspector posted in Surat has accused a Gandhinagar-based PG hostel owner of cheating her of Rs 26.8 lakh by luring her into investing in his business with promises of high returns and later threatening to tarnish her reputation when she sought her money back.According to the FIR, Dimple Jethwa, a GST inspector with the Gujarat govt’s finance department, came in contact with Sahdev Rathod in Feb 2023 while preparing for the GPSC and UPSC examinations. At the time, her husband was in Dubai on a business trip.Police said Rathod gradually gained Jethwa’s confidence by introducing her to several people he claimed to know and projecting himself as a well-connected businessman. He allegedly convinced her to invest in his boys’ and girls’ PG accommodation business in Gandhinagar, assuring her of attractive profits.Believing his claims, Jethwa began transferring money to Rathod from Aug 2023. Between Aug and Nov that year, she allegedly invested Rs 13.8 lakh through multiple transactions.The complaint states that Rathod initially promised returns on the investment but later stopped making payments. When Jethwa travelled to Gandhinagar to seek clarification, Rathod allegedly summoned two men to his office and claimed that he had diverted her money to them to help her clear the GPSC examination through their contacts.When she insisted on getting her money back, Rathod allegedly threatened to spread rumours in govt departments that she had paid money to secure success in the GPSC examination, police said.Investigators said the accused allegedly continued to pressure and intimidate the woman, eventually persuading her to arrange more funds. Under his influence, she took loans worth Rs 16.62 lakh and also borrowed Rs 12 lakh from her husband on the pretext of purchasing gold, according to the complaint.In total, Jethwa alleged that she handed over Rs 37 lakh to Rathod. Despite repeated demands, he allegedly refused to return the money.The alleged fraud came to light after Jethwa informed her husband about the transactions. The couple then visited Rathod’s office in Gandhinagar, where they reportedly met a woman identified as Trupti Zala. She allegedly told them that Rathod had cheated several people in the past by promising help in clearing competitive examinations and by offering investment and loan-related schemes.The couple later met Rathod’s father, who reportedly assured them that the money would be repaid. Following repeated follow-ups and the threat of police action, Rathod allegedly returned Rs 10.20 lakh but failed to repay the remaining amount.Police have registered a case against the accused and launched an investigation.
