Surat: A 56-year-old diamond broker from the city was allegedly cheated of Rs 14.90 lakh by three persons who lured him into investing in a dairy business in New Zealand. The accused also promised to arrange a visa for his son to facilitate his travel to New Zealand.According to the complaint, accused Piyush Rathod and his son Jay Rathod were the complainant’s neighbours when he lived in Bhavnagar. The complainant, Ramesh Sabhadiya, said he had known the father-son duo for several years through family connections. Jay Rathod had been living in New Zealand for around eight years.As per the FIR, the accused approached Sabhadiya in 2023 and offered him an opportunity to invest in a dairy business in New Zealand. They assured him of attractive returns and a share in the proposed venture.Trusting their assurances, Sabhadiya transferred money on multiple occasions through bank transactions and other payment channels, including angadia services. The accused continued asking for additional funds, claiming that more investment was needed to establish and operate the business.The complainant stated that he had paid approximately Rs 27 lakh in total. However, the accused neither started the promised business nor provided any returns. They also failed to repay the amount despite repeated requests.When Sabhadiya demanded his money back, the accused began avoiding his calls. He further alleged that their associates threatened him against pursuing the matter. Following pressure, the accused returned Rs 12.10 lakh but refused to repay the remaining Rs 14.90 lakh.Sabhadiya approached Utran police station on Thursday and lodged a complaint against three persons, including the father-son duo. Police have registered a case and are investigating the alleged fraud.
