Hyderabad’s self-styled “Old City Gold Man” Surya Bhai is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The popular Instagram influencer, known for flaunting heavy gold jewellery, white clothes, and frequent temple visits, has been exposed by the Income Tax department in a major crackdown on flashy “gold men” in the city.

What was projected as ₹1 crore worth of gold ornaments turned out to be mostly copper with rhodium coating valued at just ₹3 lakh. Even more shocking — the 34-year-old had not filed income tax returns for six years, except one year when he declared a meagre ₹4.9 lakh income.

Here’s the complete story of how Surya Bhai’s glittering image came crashing down.

Who is Surya Bhai? The Instagram Influencer’s Lavish Image

Pallapu Suresh Kumar, popularly known as Surya Bhai or Old City Surya Bhai, is a 34-year-old resident of Attapur (Rajendranagar area) in Hyderabad.

• He built a massive social media following by posting photos and videos wearing over 2 kg of “gold” ornaments.
• He frequently appeared at public events, temples, and land-related gatherings, always dressed in white with heavy chains, bracelets, and rings.
• Many believed he was a wealthy businessman involved in real estate and films.

His Instagram handle (@oldcitysuryabhai69) went viral for the “gold man” look, and he openly claimed his jewellery collection was worth more than ₹1 crore (some reports say he quoted up to ₹1.3 crore).

I-T Raid: From ₹1 Crore Claim to ₹3 Lakh Copper Reality

The Income Tax department was already probing several “gold men” in Hyderabad as part of a wider investigation. The trail led to Surya Bhai after phone analysis and social media tracking connected him to Telangana Hockey Association president Konda Vijay Kumar (Bangaru Babu), from whom 1.4 kg of genuine gold was seized at Delhi airport.

What happened during questioning:

• Surya Bhai was summoned on Friday evening (March 28, 2026).
• He arrived wearing 12 jewellery items and initially claimed they were worth around ₹1 crore.
• As questioning continued, his claim dropped.
• I-T valuers examined the ornaments and pegged the total value at just ₹3 lakh (some sources say ₹2.8 lakh).
• Most pieces were found to be copper with rhodium coating (gold-like shine that fades and needs frequent replacement).
• Only one item was silver with gold coating.

Officials said Surya Bhai admitted he wore imitation jewellery deliberately to create an image of extreme wealth and gain confidence in real estate, social media, and film circles.

He was released late Friday night and asked to submit a full list of assets and sources of income. The probe is still ongoing.

Tax Shock: No ITR for 6 Years, Only ₹4.9 Lakh Declared Once

Adding to the embarrassment:

• Surya Bhai had not filed income tax returns for six years.
• In the only year he filed (2022-23), he declared an income of just ₹4.9 lakh.
• Sources of income mentioned: Running a gym, a chicken shop, and working as a trainer.

He owns no property and lives in a rented house with a monthly rent of ₹20,000.

Surya Bhai’s Reaction: “It’s Jealousy & Smear Campaign”

After the news went viral, Surya Bhai denied allegations of “rolled gold” or fake jewellery in some statements. He called it a deliberate smear campaign driven by jealousy and trolling on social media.

However, I-T officials stand by their valuation and findings.

Why This Case Matters for Hyderabad

This exposure is part of a bigger I-T drive against people who project fake wealth to influence business deals, especially in real estate and films. Hyderabad has seen several such “gold men” cases in recent months.

Surya Bhai’s story is now trending widely on Instagram, X, and local news channels, with netizens calling it “All that glitters is not gold.”

BharatTone Takeaway In the age of social media, projecting fake luxury can backfire badly — especially when the Income Tax department is watching. Surya Bhai’s case is a big lesson for influencers and youngsters: Real wealth shows in your tax returns and assets, not just in filtered photos.

Jai Hind!  Stay real, Hyderabad!

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Tell us in the comments: Have you ever seen such “gold men” flaunting fake jewellery on social media? What do you think should happen next in Surya Bhai’s case?