The Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister of Odisha, Krushna Chandra Patra, announced on Wednesday that five jewelry shops in the state had their licenses revoked after being caught selling counterfeit gold. The affected stores include Ambika Jewellers in Kuchinda, Rajashree Jewellers in Kujang, Suna Chandi Jewellers in Puri, Radhakant Jewellers in Bargarh, and Alankar Jewellers in Sambalpur. These actions come after authorities discovered the shops were peddling fake gold to unsuspecting customers.
The issue of counterfeit gold has become a growing concern, particularly with the rising cost of gold, which has made it increasingly unaffordable for many people, especially the poor. According to sources, the government has taken stringent actions, with cases being filed for incorrect gold measurements and fraudulent practices. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, six cases of such violations were registered, resulting in fines totaling Rs 2.35 lakh. In the following fiscal year, an additional six cases were filed, accumulating Rs 1.55 lakh in fines. By November 2024, four more cases had been initiated, with fines amounting to Rs 48,000.
The impact of such fraudulent activities is most deeply felt by the lower-income groups, many of whom depend on gold purchases for significant life events like marriages. One elderly woman, Sabhapati Kar, questioned how the government could allow such price hikes when gold had become unaffordable for poorer citizens. She lamented the difficulty faced by people who struggle to afford wedding expenses and save up to buy gold, only to discover they’ve been sold counterfeit items instead.
Another woman, Menaka Choudhury from Cuttack, shared her frustration with the government’s inaction in preventing this issue. She explained that many people, particularly in rural areas, often borrow money to purchase gold for weddings and have no way of verifying the authenticity of the products they buy. For these consumers, counterfeit gold undermines their hard-earned savings and their trust in the market.
As gold prices continue to surge, there is an increasing demand for more stringent regulation to protect consumers from dishonest practices. Many hope that the Odisha government’s actions will send a strong message to other jewelers and help restore trust in the industry.
Read also