Multiple investors lose Rs 53.5 lakh in fake investment scheme

Palanpur: Himatnagar Rural police have registered an FIR against six persons for allegedly cheating multiple investors of over Rs 53.58 lakh by luring them with high monthly returns through a fake investment firm.The main accused has been identified as Anil Parmar, proprietor of A P Consultancy. The other accused include his wife Nikita Parmar, his brother-in-law Sudhirsinh Makwana, Hitendrasinh Parmar, Ranvirsinh Parmar, and Kripalsinh Parmar — all residents of Ghangha village in Himmatnagar taluka.According to the complaint filed by Mitesh Patel (37), a staff nurse at Himatnagar Civil Hospital, Anil claimed that his firm invested money in the stock market, cryptocurrency and forex trading.He promised investors monthly returns of 5% to 15%, introduced his wife as a business partner, another accused as the firm's manager, and the remaining as office staff to gain credibility. Investors were also shown videos and images of transactions through a WhatsApp group named "Friends Forever".Patel, who was acquainted with Anil through his earlier association at the civil hospital, invested Rs 9 lakh between August and October 2024. He initially received Rs 1.65 lakh as returns, which strengthened his confidence in the scheme.However, payments stopped from January 2025. The accused allegedly continued to assure investors that their money was safe and would be returned soon, but later switched off their phones, shut down the office and fled the village.Police said that apart from Patel, at least 11 other investors from Himatnagar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Idar and nearby areas were also cheated.The case has been registered at Himmatnagar Rural Police Station under Sections 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act.