Coimbatore Police Arrest Two West Bengal Men for Swapping Fake Metal with Gold Jewellery

Coimbatore: Coimbatore city police have arrested two men from West Bengal for allegedly cheating jewellery traders by exchanging fake metal for genuine 916 gold jewellery, recovering 265 grams of gold jewellery along with chemicals and equipment used to prepare the counterfeit metal.

The frauds reportedly took place on June 13 and September 12, 2026, near the junction of Raja Street and Telugu Street, within the limits of the B3 Variety Hall Road Police Station in Coimbatore. Traders lodged complaints alleging that the accused had promised to supply gold pieces but handed over fake metal instead.

Following the complaints, a special team was formed on the instructions of the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner, Dr. N. Kannan, IPS, under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South. Using scientific and technical investigation methods, the team identified and arrested the suspects, identified as S. K. Julfikar Hussain and Rupalkaj, 25, both from West Bengal.

During the investigation, police found that Julfikar Hussain and Rupalkaj allegedly prepared the counterfeit metal by mixing copper and zinc. They then used chemicals, including ammonium chloride and borax, to polish the mixture and make it resemble gold.

The suspects allegedly showed the shiny metal to traders, claiming it was genuine gold and saying they needed to leave urgently. After gaining the traders' trust, they collected 916 gold jewellery in exchange for the counterfeit metal and fled, police said.

The seized materials included chemicals and equipment allegedly used in preparing the fake metal, along with 265 grams of recovered gold jewellery. Julfikar Hussain and Rupalkaj were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Following the arrests, the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, urged gold jewellery traders and workshop owners to remain vigilant and carefully verify gold pieces and jewellery before making transactions. Traders and workshop owners reportedly appreciated the special team's swift action in tracing the suspects and recovering the gold.