Surat: Three members of a family allegedly cheated at least 14 people of Rs 2.05 crore after luring them with promises of high returns from forex trading.Three accused members of a family, including a woman, allegedly cultivated trust among locals by frequently visiting a temple in Dabholi and projecting an image of wealth. They would often flaunt their prosperity and distribute dry fruits such as cashews and almonds as prasad to draw attention and build credibility among visitors.According to police, the accused later invited several people to the inauguration of their new firm, Epic Innovation LLP, in Varachha, claiming that the company was engaged in forex trading. The firm reportedly had four partners — Ashok Solanki, his son Jay, daughter Jyoti, and Rushi Patel. They allegedly promised investors monthly returns of 4% to 5%, persuading them to put money into the venture.One of the complainants, Anil Balar (50), who runs an online apparel business, said he had met members of the Solanki family several times earlier and believed them to be trustworthy. Lured by the offer of high returns, Balar transferred Rs 35 lakh to bank accounts provided by Ashok and Jay Solanki during April 2024.Initially, the accused paid small amounts as returns to maintain credibility. Balar received Rs 56,666 and Rs 60,000 in May and June respectively. When he later became suspicious, he obtained a written acknowledgement from the accused stating that they owed him Rs 35 lakh.The accused continued to send small payments — Rs 60,000 in July and Rs 46,308 in August — and Ashok Solanki reportedly paid around Rs 2.74 lakh as returns until Sept 2024. However, soon after, the office was shut down and the accused allegedly fled the city.As news of the incident spread, it emerged that several other investors had also put money into the scheme. A meeting of the victims was later held at the residence of one of them, Mukesh Patel, where the fourth partner, Rushi Patel, was called and reportedly assured them that the money would be returned. However, the payments never materialised.
