Surat: A 70-year-old man from Surat was allegedly cheated of Rs 3.51 crore over nearly two decades by a man who claimed that Rs 2,200 crore belonging to him was stuck in a purported Forest Reserve Fund (FRF) and promised him a handsome portion of the fund.Singanpor police have registered an FIR against the accused, Bharat Sheladiya (57).The complainant, Parsottam Golakiya, alleged that he met Sheladiya through a common friend. Sheladiya gained his trust by claiming that he needed money to release the Rs 2,200 crore fund and promised that Golakiya’s future generations would “play with golden toys” if he helped him.Convinced by the promise, Golakiya began giving Sheladiya money in instalments in 2007. As the accused allegedly continued demanding money, Golakiya sold jewellery belonging to family members and also used his farming income to meet the demands.Between 2007 and 2026, Golakiya allegedly transferred a total of Rs 3.51 crore to Sheladiya through cash payments, bank transfers and angadiya channels.When Golakiya eventually demanded his money back, Sheladiya allegedly claimed that his bank account had been frozen in connection with a cybercrime case and blamed the complainant. He also allegedly threatened Golakiya with serious consequences.According to police, Sheladiya has also been named in an offence registered at Krishnanagar police station in Ahmedabad.
