In a swift and efficient operation, Jagalur Police arrested two individuals involved in a gold coin scam that defrauded a Telangana man of ₹8 lakh. The arrested men — Marappa (58) and Prakash (29) — both hail from Battanahalli village in Kottur taluk, Vijayanagar district. A third accused, Suresh, a lorry driver from Hampi, is currently absconding.
The Scam Unfolds
According to police, the victim, Ramavat Bhaskar from Chalakurthi Tanda in Telangana’s Nalgonda district, was deceived by the trio into buying what he believed was half a kilogram of genuine gold coins. Bhaskar had been in contact with Suresh, who had earlier worked in Chalakurthi in 2021 and befriended him.
Suresh later claimed to have inherited antique gold coins and convinced Bhaskar to travel to Ballari to complete the transaction. The deal was executed near Kananakatte village in Jagalur taluk, where the accused handed over fake gold coins and fled with the cash.
Police Launch ‘Operation Fake Coin’
After Bhaskar realized he had been cheated, he filed a complaint with the Jagalur Police. Under the leadership of Police Inspector Sidramayya, officials quickly launched ‘Operation Fake Coin’. Their efforts led to the arrest of Marappa and Prakash, and the recovery of:
- ₹7.5 lakh in cash
- 505 grams of fake gold coins
- 2 grams of genuine gold
Efforts are ongoing to track down Suresh, the main conspirator who remains at large.
Public Advisory
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of high-value transactions, especially when involving alleged inheritance or antique items. The police emphasized that engaging in private deals without proper verification can make individuals vulnerable to sophisticated scams.
The case serves as a reminder of the increasing prevalence of fraud schemes disguised as lucrative deals, and highlights the importance of caution and due diligence in such situations.
