A couple from Andhra Pradesh was arrested for allegedly using genuine gold pieces affixed to fake gold bars with quick-setting adhesive to dupe a Coimbatore jeweller. Police have urged jewellers to thoroughly verify the authenticity of precious metals before entering into transactions with unknown persons.
Coimbatore: The Periyanaickenpalayam Police have arrested a husband and wife from Andhra Pradesh for allegedly duping a Coimbatore jeweller by passing off fake gold bars as genuine and fraudulently obtaining gold jewellery worth around 7½ sovereigns. The accused, identified as Venkata Rao (45) and his wife Kamatchi (35), natives of Sattenapalle village in Guntur district, were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
According to the police, Udhayakumar, who runs a jewellery shop in Jothipuram near Periyanaickenpalayam, was approached on June 23 through a woman known to him, Saranya. She informed him that a couple was interested in selling a 380-gram gold bar and produced a sample provided by them. After testing the sample and finding it genuine, Udhayakumar agreed to purchase the remaining gold bars.
The following day, the couple allegedly produced what they claimed were 380 grams of gold bars and demanded ₹10 lakh. As Udhayakumar was unable to arrange the cash immediately, he handed over around 6½ sovereigns of gold jewellery from his shop. Saranya also pledged her one-sovereign gold chain on the assurance that the jewellery would be returned once the payment was made. The couple allegedly collected the jewellery and left the premises.
When Udhayakumar later examined the gold bars more closely, he discovered that they were fake. After failing to trace the accused, he lodged a complaint with the Periyanaickenpalayam Police.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered and a special investigation team was constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Kanagasabapathi. The team, led by Inspector Rajesh Kannan, launched an investigation to identify and trace the suspects.
During a routine vehicle check near Samanaickenpalayam on Friday, police intercepted a couple whose suspicious behaviour prompted further questioning. Their inconsistent statements led investigators to establish their identity as Venkata Rao and Kamatchi, who were allegedly involved in the fake gold bar fraud. Police recovered the fake gold bars, around 6½ sovereigns of gold jewellery and the one-sovereign gold chain from their possession.
Investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly adopted a sophisticated method to deceive buyers by affixing a small piece of genuine gold to a fake gold bar using quick-setting adhesive. During negotiations, only the genuine portion was broken off and tested in the buyer’s presence, creating the impression that the entire bar was made of gold. Believing the test results, the victims proceeded with the transaction before later discovering the deception.
Police have cautioned jewellers and the public against purchasing gold bars from unknown individuals offering attractive deals. They have advised buyers to ensure that the authenticity of precious metals is verified through proper testing before completing any transaction.
According to the police, Udhayakumar, who runs a jewellery shop in Jothipuram near Periyanaickenpalayam, was approached on June 23 through a woman known to him, Saranya. She informed him that a couple was interested in selling a 380-gram gold bar and produced a sample provided by them. After testing the sample and finding it genuine, Udhayakumar agreed to purchase the remaining gold bars.
The following day, the couple allegedly produced what they claimed were 380 grams of gold bars and demanded ₹10 lakh. As Udhayakumar was unable to arrange the cash immediately, he handed over around 6½ sovereigns of gold jewellery from his shop. Saranya also pledged her one-sovereign gold chain on the assurance that the jewellery would be returned once the payment was made. The couple allegedly collected the jewellery and left the premises.
When Udhayakumar later examined the gold bars more closely, he discovered that they were fake. After failing to trace the accused, he lodged a complaint with the Periyanaickenpalayam Police.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered and a special investigation team was constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Kanagasabapathi. The team, led by Inspector Rajesh Kannan, launched an investigation to identify and trace the suspects.
During a routine vehicle check near Samanaickenpalayam on Friday, police intercepted a couple whose suspicious behaviour prompted further questioning. Their inconsistent statements led investigators to establish their identity as Venkata Rao and Kamatchi, who were allegedly involved in the fake gold bar fraud. Police recovered the fake gold bars, around 6½ sovereigns of gold jewellery and the one-sovereign gold chain from their possession.
Investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly adopted a sophisticated method to deceive buyers by affixing a small piece of genuine gold to a fake gold bar using quick-setting adhesive. During negotiations, only the genuine portion was broken off and tested in the buyer’s presence, creating the impression that the entire bar was made of gold. Believing the test results, the victims proceeded with the transaction before later discovering the deception.
Police have cautioned jewellers and the public against purchasing gold bars from unknown individuals offering attractive deals. They have advised buyers to ensure that the authenticity of precious metals is verified through proper testing before completing any transaction.