Fake gold scam accused also behind Malaparamba sex racket, say police

KOZHIKODE: The woman at the centre of the Malaparamba sex racket case is the same individual previously arrested for a massive ₹1.69 crore fake gold pledge scam in 2020, Nadakkavu police confirmed.

Bindu (47), a native of Wayanad, had allegedly pledged 1.5 kg of counterfeit gold across 44 transactions at Union Bank’s Kozhikode branch between February and November 2020. She secured nearly ₹1.7 crore using the fake ornaments, often utilising employee bank accounts from her beauty parlour and tailoring shop to route the funds.

The fraud came to light in December 2020 after bank auditors flagged discrepancies. Investigators later seized more fake gold from her premises. The case also took a tragic turn when appraiser Charapparamb Chandran (70), who was suspected of knowingly assisting Bindu, was found drowned in a temple pond just a day after being named co-accused.

Bindu, who was arrested and later released on bail in the scam, is now in the spotlight again for her alleged involvement in a sex racket. Nadakkavu Inspector Prajeesh confirmed the link: “She admitted to being the same person involved in the earlier fraud.”

Police believe Bindu was introduced to the sex trade while in prison, reportedly influenced by a fellow inmate serving time for prostitution.