Woman activist alleges Rs 1.9L fraud by self-help group promoter

Ahmedabad: A 59-year-old woman social worker from Behrampura lodged a complaint with Danilimda police, alleging that she and several women from her locality were cheated of nearly Rs 1.94 lakh by a man posing as a representative of a self-help group offering govt-linked benefits.According to the FIR filed on Saturday, the complainant, a domestic worker and long-time social worker residing near the IP Mission graveyard in Danilimda, said the accused, a resident of Behrampura, approached women in her neighbourhood in July 2025. He allegedly claimed to be associated with a self-help group and promised zero-balance Bank of Baroda accounts, household kits worth Rs 1,000, and lifelong membership on payment of a nominal fee.The complainant told police that the accused later persuaded her to act as a "leader" for the group, asking her to mobilise members from Danilimda and nearby areas in return for commission. Acting on his assurances, she collected money from women for sewing machines, kitchen kits, grocery kits, and membership forms.According to the complaint, she handed over Rs 1.94 lakh in cash to the accused at his office in Danilimda on different occasions. She also claimed that the accused issued receipts of Rs 31,000 and Rs 23,000 in July 2025.However, neither the promised kits nor refunds were provided despite repeated follow-ups. "He kept giving evasive replies and stopped responding properly," the complainant stated in her complaint, alleging criminal breach of trust and cheating.Danilimda police registered a case of cheating and breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and began an investigation.