In Surat, a nefarious plot has come to light, detailing how a local cloth merchant was deceived out of Rs. 50 lakhs in a meticulously planned honeytrap scheme. When the fraudsters demanded a further Rs. 20 lakhs, the case unraveled leading to the filing of a complaint with the Vesu Police Station. Six individuals, including a woman, are implicated in this intricate scam.

48-year-old businessman Shivraj, residing on Vesu VIP Road, was initially lured by a WhatsApp message containing a photo of a woman and an invitation that read "There is a new girl in the market". The address provided led him to an apartment in Nanpura Santok. Upon arrival, he was met by three men posing as police officers, who threatened to file a 'sex racket' case against him. To avoid public shame, the businessman handed over Rs. 10 lakhs immediately.

In the following months, the fraudsters continued to exploit Shivraj's fear, demanding an additional Rs. 40 lakhs under the guise of avoiding legal repercussions. Two days after this payment, the faux law enforcement officer named Makwana, claiming to be Abhesingh Parmar from Athwa Police Station, further intimidated the businessman and demanded an additional Rs. 20 lakhs.

Growing suspicious and tired of the ongoing harassment, Shivraj finally reported the case to the Vesu Police Station after consulting a friend who, after making inquiries at the Athwa Police Station, found no officer named Abhay Singh Parmar on the roster.

Following the registration of the crime, Surat Vesu police launched a comprehensive investigation into the gang of six suspected scammers. Two individuals, Nikul Parsotam Solanki and Piyush Umesh Vora, have since been arrested. Police are continuing their search for the remaining gang members, including the alleged mastermind, Shivraj.

This isn't the first time the gang has been implicated in such cases. Both Shivraj and Nikul were previously involved in a similar honeytrap case in 2020 in Pune, reinforcing the duplicitous nature of their activities. As the investigation continues, police have seized Rs 10 lakh in cash and mobile phones from the arrested suspects.