Two held for cheating taxi driver of 12.4 lakh

Cleared/Jedi
Coimbatore: Two people including a woman were arrested on Monday for cheating a taxi driver to the tune of 12.41 lakh.
Those arrested have been identified as V Amutha, 44, of Kannappa Nagar, and R Imam Kasali, 27, of GN Mills. While the woman is the main accused, police said Imam, who is engaged in flex board fixing work had assisted the woman in her crimes.
Police said K Chinnappan, 50, of Jaya Nagar in Neelikonampalayam, a taxi driver, lodged a complaint with Rathinapuri police. He stated that Amutha used his cab to frequently visit various gold jewellery shops in the city. She told him that the gold seized at various international airports by the customs department, was supplied to some jewellery shops in the city and that she would purchase it for less than the market rate.
Believing her, Chinnappan paid her 12,41,500 in several instalments from August 17, 2023, to buy gold jewels for his daughter's marriage. Amutha took the money but did not supply any gold ornaments. When Chinnappan asked her to return the money, she changed her mobile number and became untraceable.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the woman bought gold coins from several branded jewellery shops in the city and melted them with the help of some accomplices. She also purchased fake gold coins, electroplated it with the melted original gold, and sold it at a cheap rate. Police added that the woman also purchased empty jewellery boxes from the jewellery stores and sold the fake gold coins in those boxes to make it look authentic.
"Some goldsmiths and gold appraisers were also helping her cheat the public. As of now, we have received four complaints against Amutha. We suspect that she might have cheated more than 20 to 30 people. Victims can approach the Coimbatore city police," said a police officer.
Rathinapuri police have registered a case against the two under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. They were remanded in judicial custody. Further investigation is on.
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