Bengaluru: The Hulimavu police have arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly cheating people by claiming to remove ‘black magic’ or unearth hidden treasures, officials said on Tuesday.
Recovery of stolen gold
The accused, identified as Dada Peer, who reportedly used multiple aliases, was found in possession of 485.4 grams of stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 53 lakh. Police recovered half of the gold from his residence in Kolar, while the remaining ornaments were pledged at jewellery shops in Nagpur and BTM Layout, Bengaluru.
How the scam was uncovered
The case came to light on September 26, when police received a tip-off about a suspicious person standing near Bannerghatta Main Road. Acting on the information, officers rushed to the spot and detained the man. Upon inspection, the stolen gold ornaments were found in his possession.
Modus operandi
During interrogation, Dada Peer admitted to deceiving people by claiming he could remove black magic or retrieve hidden treasures (nidhi). He would gain the trust of victims, collect gold ornaments under the pretext of performing rituals or pujas, and then escape with the valuables.
He also confessed to committing a similar offence in Bhadravathi, Shivamogga district, Karnataka, police said. A case of theft has been registered at Hulimavu police station, and the accused was formally arrested.
Investigation continues
Police have stated that further investigations are underway to trace all victims and recover remaining stolen property. Authorities are also checking whether the accused was part of a larger network operating similar scams across Karnataka and other states.