‘Sathuranga Vettai’ Style Gold Scam Near Pollachi: Fake Godman Among 9 Arrested

Coimbatore: 9 Arrested Near Pollachi in ₹12 Lakh Gold Scam; Fake Godman Among Accused

Coimbatore: In a case resembling the plot of the Tamil film Sathuranga Vettai, Pollachi Taluk Police have arrested nine people, including an alleged fake godman and members of a Kerala-based gang, for allegedly cheating a Chennai businessman of ₹12 lakh by promising to sell gold bars at a price well below the market rate.

The complainant, John Basha (42), a scrap dealer from Arakkonam near Chennai, was reportedly acquainted with Velmurugan (83), an alleged fake godman from Theni district. Velmurugan allegedly lured Basha with an offer to purchase gold bars at a significantly lower price than the prevailing market rate, claiming that a group of people from Kerala would facilitate the deal. About a month earlier, he had reportedly shown Basha some fake gold bars as samples.

Believing the offer, Basha travelled by bus to Pollachi on October 9, carrying ₹12 lakh in cash to purchase the gold. He reportedly met Velmurugan in Mannur, near Pollachi, and got into a car with a group of people. Another group allegedly followed them in a second car.

While travelling from Mannur towards Ramapattinam, the gang allegedly threatened Basha, took the ₹12 lakh from him and abandoned him and Velmurugan on the roadside before fleeing. Velmurugan subsequently disappeared.

Realising that he had been cheated, Basha approached the Pollachi Taluk Police Station and lodged a complaint. He initially claimed that unidentified persons had robbed him of the money he had brought for his scrap business. However, during the police investigation, the alleged gold scam came to light.

Following an investigation, a special police team arrested nine people in connection with the case. Those arrested were identified as Sandeep (36), Siju (35), Binu (43) and Sudheesh (37), all from Palakkad in Kerala; Karthi (40) from Kottur near Pollachi; Sakthivel (53) from Gudimangalam in Tiruppur district; Senthilkumar (42) and Ravikumar (54) from Udumalaipettai; and Velmurugan (83) from Theni district.

Police seized ₹6 lakh in cash and two cars allegedly used in the crime. The incident has caused a stir in the Pollachi region,