Surat Diamond Tycoon Jayam Sonani Arrested in Rs.50 Crore Diamond Fraud

Surat | Gujarat — In a sensational turn of events that has rocked the Surat diamond industry, Jayam Sonani, the 34-year-old owner of Diamtech Diamond Company in Surat, has been arrested from Delhi Airport in connection with a massive ₹50 crore lab-grown diamond fraud. The arrest follows a look-out notice issued after his controversial earlier release from Surat Airport sparked outrage and allegations of police favoritism.

The glittering inauguration of Sonani Jewels, touted as the world’s largest lab-grown diamond jewellery showroom on Ghod Dod Road, now stands tarnished by scandal. The showroom, inaugurated in September 2025 by Union Minister C.R. Paatil, Gujarat Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, has become the centrepiece of a multi-crore fraud investigation.

A High-Profile Arrest After a Suspicious Release

According to CID Crime officials, Sonani was detained at Delhi Airport while allegedly attempting to flee abroad. He is now being transported to Ahmedabad for interrogation.

This arrest comes weeks after a disturbing incident at Surat Airport, where Sonani was earlier taken into custody but mysteriously released following what sources described as a “private meeting” outside the CID office.

“A meeting lasting more than an hour in a private car and then the accused walks free — that’s not procedure, that’s privilege,” remarked a senior police insider, hinting at possible interference by influential businessmen and officers.

Legal experts have demanded an internal inquiry. “If true, this is not just a case of fraud but a collapse of accountability. Releasing an accused under pressure is a direct attack on justice,” said Advocate Kiran Mehta, a senior criminal lawyer in Surat.

The ₹50 Crore Fraud Exposed

The case was filed by Ankushbhai Madhubhai Nakarani, a Surat-based businessman representing Jusco General Trading LLP and Asian Grow Diamond Company.

According to his complaint, the scam began in 2021, when Sonani and his father, Mahesh Bhagwan Sonani, approached investors with claims of having developed revolutionary diamond-production technology capable of producing 1,500 carats per month.

“They convinced me to invest in 16 systems, assuring massive profits. I transferred ₹26.6 crore for the setup. Later, another ₹23.35 crore was taken under the pretext of diamond sales through an American firm, Signet,” Nakarani stated in his complaint.

“But neither the diamonds nor my investment were returned. Instead, they began threatening me for more money.”

CID Crime’s Investigation and the Role of Influence

Following the complaint, the CID launched a probe and initially detained Sonani when he landed at Surat Airport. However, soon after his arrest, a well-connected diamond trader allegedly intervened, applying pressure on the investigating officer. The accused was subsequently released without due process — an act that triggered internal controversy within the department.

The public backlash forced CID Crime to reopen the investigation and issue a look-out notice against Sonani. Acting on intelligence inputs, Delhi Airport authorities intercepted him before he could leave the country.

Sonani’s arrest marks a critical step in what could become one of the biggest white-collar frauds in Gujarat’s diamond sector. CID officials have hinted that more arrests may follow as they probe the network of financiers and facilitators involved.

A CID official told reporters, “We are examining financial records, international transfers, and call logs. This case is not just about one individual—it’s about an entire system of deceit masked by glamour and influence.”

The arrest has sent shockwaves through Surat’s diamond hub, raising questions about ethical practices, police integrity, and political influence in one of India’s most prestigious industries.