Ahmedabad: Tension prevailed at a data centre facility operated by a private company in the domestic area of GIFT City after a large number of investors gathered to protest an alleged cheating in an investment scheme. Police were deployed to control the situation as the crowd assembled outside the office seeking clarity on their investments.
Thousands of Investors Affected
According to Dabhoda police, thousands of investors have alleged they were lured into a scheme that promised monthly returns. Preliminary claims suggest that around 33,000 people may have been affected. While a few investors alleged that the total amount involved could run into several crores, officials said the exact figure had yet to be determined.
Police Investigation Underway
Dabhoda police inspector Anil Chauhan stated that investors have submitted an application, but a formal complaint is yet to be registered. He said, 'The exact amount of the cheating is not ascertained yet. Around 33,000 people have claimed they were cheated. The facility had been operating from the premises for nearly three months, and the dispute surfaced over the past month.' He added that it may take one to two months to verify the allegations before registering an FIR.
Police said the scheme allegedly involved investing in digital or data storage-related assets, with promises of fixed monthly returns. Investors claimed that initial payouts were made, which encouraged them to invest larger sums. However, payments reportedly stopped in recent weeks, following which attempts to contact those running the operation failed.
Chaos at the Site
As word spread, investors began arriving at the office in large numbers, leading to chaos at the site. Many alleged that they had invested their entire savings, borrowed funds, or liquidated assets to participate in the scheme. Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty said he was not aware of the details behind the ruckus.
