Ahmedabad: A 55-year-old businesswoman lodged a police complaint alleging she was duped of Rs 1.3 crore after investing in a cement trading business that promised attractive returns of 2.5%.According to a complaint filed with the DCB crime branch, the woman, who runs a metal and copper trading firm with her husband, was introduced to the accused through a family acquaintance in Dec 2024. The accused allegedly claimed that he and his wife were engaged in a cement-related business and offered her company an opportunity to act as an intermediary supplier.In her complaint, the woman alleged that she was promised that transactions through her company would start from the new financial year. Until then, she was allegedly convinced to invest money in the accused’s proprietorship firm.Between Jan and May 2025, she allegedly transferred Rs 2.8 crore through multiple bank transactions to the firm’s account. The complaint states that Rs 1.5 crore was later returned to her by May 2025.However, the complainant alleged that Rs 1.3 crore of her principal investment, apart from the promised returns, remained unpaid. “Despite repeatedly demanding our money, they kept giving assurances and eventually stopped taking our calls,” she alleged.The woman subsequently sent a legal notice through her lawyer in July last year. According to the complaint, she was allegedly informed that the matter would be dealt with by the accused’s lawyer and that the money would not be returned. She further alleged that no reply to the legal notice was received.The complainant eventually approached police and, on Saturday, lodged a case against the accused for criminal breach of trust and abetment.
