Diabetologist swindled of Rs 60 lakh with lure of gold at a discount in Ahmedabad

A diabetologist from the Satellite on Monday filed a complaint against two men and a woman, who were relatives a patient of his, alleging that the three had cheated him out of Rs 59.50 lakh after promising to sell him gold at lower-than-market prices.

Dr Banshi Saboo, 52, who runs a clinic in Nehrunagar, in his FIR with Satellite police said that a resident of Satellite called Bharat Soni, his wife Manisha Soni and Bharat's brother Kirti Soni had cheated him.

Saboo said Bharat came to his clinic on April 18. Bharat's father, Shantilal Soni, has been getting treatment from him and hence Saboo knew Bharat well.

According to the FIR, Bharat told Saboo that he runs a gold and silver shop in Manek Chowk and offered to sell him gold the rate of Rs 59,500 per 10g. Saboo agreed to buy 1 kg of gold biscuits from Bharat.

Satellite police officers said Saboo sent two of his staffers to Bharat's shop and they paid him Rs 59.50 lakh in cash on April 27.

After a couple of hours, Bharat came to Saboo's clinic and handed him gold biscuits. As they did not have hallmarks, Saboo objected and Bharat assured him he would get the hallmarks stamped on them.

On April 28, Bharat collected the gold biscuits from Saboo's wife and took them, to get them hallmarked.

Bharat didn't come back with the gold biscuits, even as Saboo tried to contact him repeatedly. Saboo said Bharat's brother Kirti and Bharat's wife Manisha also ignored his calls.

Bharat, Manisha and Kirti kept Saboo hanging for around a month. Recently Bharat told Saboo that he was in Dubai and his family members kept telling Saboo that he had gone to meet a friend in Surat.

Saboo alleged that Bharat, Manisha and Kirti also threatened him when he demanded the gold biscuits.

Satellite police registered a complaint of breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation.