Hyderabad police have filed cases against P. Suresh Kumar, alias Surya Bhai, a social media personality widely known as the 'Gold Man', for allegedly duping victims through a fake gold investment scheme. The accused, a 34-year-old resident of the Attapur area, reportedly collected money by promising to supply imported gold at below-market prices and then failed to deliver either the gold or refunds.

How the Alleged Fraud Unfolded

According to police, Surya Bhai claimed to be a close aide of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar — connections he allegedly used to lend credibility to his scheme. In one documented case, he reportedly collected ₹32 lakh from a victim with a promise of imported gold at discounted rates.

When the accused failed to deliver the gold or return the money, the victim visited his residence. Surya Bhai reportedly handed over three iPhones and a cheque for ₹20 lakh as partial settlement — but later allegedly threatened the victim and took the phones back.

FIR and Case Transfers

Following victim complaints, a zero FIR was initially registered at Attapur Police Station and subsequently transferred to Narayanguda Police Station. A second, separate case was also registered against Surya Bhai for allegedly lodging a false complaint with police — an action initiated after investigators determined he had provided fabricated information.

Police are currently investigating the full scale of the alleged fraud and are working to establish whether additional victims were targeted.

The 'Gold Man' Image and Income Tax Scrutiny

Surya Bhai built a substantial social media following by appearing in heavy gold jewellery paired with white attire, often photographed at temple visits. This carefully cultivated persona earned him the 'Gold Man' label across platforms.

His image began unravelling in March 2025 when he came under the income tax scanner. During that inquiry, officials found that most of his ornaments were cheap imitation metals, not genuine gold. He had publicly claimed to wear jewellery worth around ₹1 crore, but revised that figure downward when pressed. A formal valuation placed the jewellery's worth at approximately ₹3 lakh — a fraction of his stated claim.

What Investigators Are Examining

Hyderabad police are now working to determine the total number of victims and the cumulative amount allegedly collected. The dual FIRs — one for fraud and one for filing a false complaint — signal that investigators are treating the case as multi-layered. Notably, the accused's alleged invocation of senior political and police figures as supposed associates adds a dimension of impersonation to the probe.

As the investigation widens, authorities are expected to examine Surya Bhai's financial transactions and social media activity to map the full extent of the alleged scheme.