Mysuru: Fake gold racket busted, Rs 20L recovered from duo

MYSURU: The city police have recovered most of the money that a Mysuru resident lost to a gang of fake gold dealers by arresting two youths from Gujarat within two weeks of the crime. They have arecovered about Rs 20 lakh from the accused.
Police have launched a search for the kingpin and his associates for selling fake gold to a Mysurean for Rs 30 lakh.
Two weeks ago, Raghavendra of Kumbarkopplu knocked on the doors of police and said he was duped of Rs 30 lakh. He said a gang of six had sold him 3.5kg ornaments, that turned out to be fake gold.
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) AN Prakash Gowda said the gang had approached many people and traders in the city promising them pure and ancient gold items for lesser money. Raghavendra too was approached by one of gang members in Saraswathipuram police limits in early July.
The gang had given him some gold items to make him believe. Raghavendra had got it checked with a goldsmith and after confirmation struck a deal with the gang to buy the gold. Accordingly, on July 13, he collected the said gold items near Mysuru Palace and gave the gang Rs 30 lakh. His joy of possessing 3.5kg for a cheap price did not last long, as the items he received were fake. After all his efforts to contact the gang members went in vain, he filed a police complaint three days later.
Prakash Gowda said the gang members are originally from Gujarat but have settled near KRS in Mandya. “Their profession is to cheat gullible public and make money. We have information that the gang has approached many others in the city but only Raghavendra approached us,” he said.
Bheema and Arjun are the arrested accused. About Rs 20 lakh cash, two bikes and mobile phones have been recovered from them.