Rajkot: An 80-year-old retired man has filed a complaint at Gondal City B Division police station, alleging he was cheated of over Rs 1.56 crore in a fraudulent property investment scheme by a Rajkot resident.According to the complaint by Dayalji Makwana, a resident of Ashapura Road in Gondal, the accused, Rajesh Shah, gained his trust over time through personal acquaintance. Makwana said that after his wife passed away seven years ago, Shah’s wife, Kajal, who worked as a cook at his residence, would visit regularly. Rajesh would often accompany her, during which he developed a rapport with Makwana.Makwana alleged that Shah persuaded him to invest in land, houses, shops and other properties, claiming he had links with influential officials involved in large real estate deals. He allegedly promised that the investments would double within three to four years and assured that all documentation would be handled through a “minister”.Trusting these claims, Makwana said he invested Rs 1.56 crore in multiple instalments between 2018 and 2022. The accused reportedly showed him 23 property deals during this period. However, when the promised returns did not materialise and Makwana sought either profits or documents, Shah allegedly denied knowledge of the transactions and refused to return the money.Police said a case has been registered under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, and efforts are on to trace the accused. Investigators are also collecting documentary evidence related to the alleged transactions.
