Asian Games gold medallist Sarita Gayakwad allegedly lost Rs 69.10 lakh after trusting a businessman who promised lucrative returns on an investment. Here's what happened.Athlete Sarita Gayakwad has been duped off Rs 69 lakh.
Asian Games gold medal-winning sprinter Sarita Gayakwad was allegedly cheated of Rs 69.10 lakh after investing in a sand business in Gujarat on the promise of high returns. The accused, Nitin Bharti, had reportedly offered her a monthly return of 4 per cent on her investment and promised to repay the principal after a year.
However, he allegedly failed to honour his commitments and is now absconding, police said.An FIR was registered against Bharti, a resident of Vyara town in Tapi district, at the Ahwa police station in Dang district on October 29, following a complaint filed by the 32-year-old athlete.Gayakwad, who lives with her parents in Karadiamba village in Ahwa taluka of Dang district, alleged that she was introduced to Bharti in 2024 through a mutual acquaintance, Jitubhai, the sarpanch of Gadhvi gram panchayat. Gold medallist Sarita (second from right) meets PM Modi in 2018.
SAND BUSINESS SCAMDuring their meeting, Bharti allegedly told her that he ran a large-scale sand business in Vyara, with vehicles transporting construction material to Mumbai. He claimed to have invested Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore of his own money in the business and offered Gayakwad a monthly return of 4 per cent on any amount she invested.
He also promised to return the principal amount after one year, according to the FIR. Trusting these assurances, the athlete began investing in the business.
However, Bharti allegedly failed to pay the promised monthly returns or return her principal amount after the agreed one-year period.According to her complaint, Bharti continued to give her assurances whenever she contacted him about the money. On one occasion, he sent her a photograph of a cheque worth Rs 30 lakh through WhatsApp, claiming it had been issued towards repayment.
However, he never handed over the cheque to her. Gayakwad further alleged that she had been unable to contact Bharti over the phone for the past two months.
The total amount she claimed to have invested in the scheme was Rs 69,10,059."Gayakwad was duped of Rs 69.10 lakh allegedly by Bharti, who offered her high returns on her investment. Based on the complaint by the athlete, we have registered an FIR against the accused, who is absconding.
Efforts were on to nab him," Inspector K B Sankhla of the Ahwa police station said.The case has been registered under Sections 316(5) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to criminal breach of trust and aggravated cheating.Gayakwad was part of India's women's 4x400m relay team that won gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. The sprinter is among the athletes who represented India at the continental event.- Ends