Ahmedabad jeweller duped of ₹30,000 by fraudster posing as spiritual leader’s aide

An Ahmedabad-based jeweller was allegedly duped of ₹30,000 by a cyber fraudster who posed as an aide of his spiritual leader and sought money on the pretext of medical treatment for his father, police said.

According to Khadia police, the incident took place on April 9 when the complainant, Vishal Ashwinbhai Shah (34), a resident of Krishnanagar and a businessman dealing in gold jewellery at Manek Chowk, received a phone call from an unknown number.

Police said the caller identified himself as 'Mehul' and claimed that he had received Shah’s contact details from 'Gurudev Ji Bodhi Maharaj Saheb'. The caller allegedly told Shah that his father, an Income Tax officer, had suffered a brain haemorrhage after a fall and was admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad for surgery.

The accused allegedly informed Shah that the hospital was not accepting cash and urgently required online payment for treatment. Trusting the caller because of the reference to his spiritual leader, Shah arranged to transfer ₹20,000 from an associate’s bank account to a Kotak Mahindra Bank account provided by the accused.

Police said the caller contacted Shah again nearly 90 minutes later, claiming that additional money was urgently required for platelets and medical treatment. Shah subsequently transferred another ₹10,000 to the same account after the accused allegedly promised to return ₹30,000 in cash later.

However, later in the night, the caller allegedly demanded more money, citing the deteriorating condition of his father and the need for further hospitalisation. Shah reportedly became suspicious and refused to transfer additional funds.

Shah later realised that he had been cheated after the accused failed to return the money. He subsequently lodged a complaint through the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and later approached Khadia Police Station for legal action.

Police said a case of cyber fraud and cheating has been registered against the unidentified accused. Investigators are probing the bank account and mobile number allegedly used in the fraud.