Overview
- Attapur police arrested P. Suresh Kumar alias Surya, known locally as 'Gold Man', after several victims filed complaints that he collected advance payments for imported gold and did not deliver the metal on June 26, 2026.
- Victims told police he promised imported gold at heavily discounted rates, collected lakhs of rupees in advance, and then either failed to supply the gold or intimidated customers who sought refunds.
- Reports say Surya claimed close ties to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar to build credibility with buyers, an allegation central to the complaints lodged with police.
- Income Tax officials inspected Surya in March after his public displays of heavy jewellery and were told most pieces were imitation with only about Rs 3 lakh in real gold, a detail reporters say undercuts his public image but is not part of the current criminal charge.
- Police have registered multiple cases and opened an investigation to determine the full scale of the alleged fraud, and investigators will examine payments, returned items and whether more victims were targeted.