Kundapur: Shankaranarayana police have arrested a man for allegedly cheating a victim of Rs 5 lakh by promising to sell gold at a cheaper rate and later handing over fake ornaments. The accused was traced and arrested from Chitradurga district following an investigation led by the Kundapur subdivision police.

According to police, the victim, Gopal, a resident of Chandrabanda village in Raichur district, was lured by the accused with an offer to sell gold at a rate significantly lower than the prevailing market price. Trusting the promise, the victim agreed to purchase a large quantity of gold and arranged the required cash.

Incident on Kamalashile Road

The alleged cheating incident took place on Kamalashile Road in Siddapur. Police said the accused, identified as Jayaprakash D, a resident of Gandhinagar, Challakere in Chitradurga district, met the victim at the agreed location and collected Rs 5 lakh in cash.

Jayaprakash reportedly claimed that the amount was payment for 150 grams of gold. After receiving the money, he handed over what appeared to be gold ornaments. However, the victim later realised that the ornaments were fake. By the time the deception came to light, the accused had fled the spot.

Police said the accused had allegedly planned the transaction carefully to gain the confidence of the victim and escape before the fraud was detected.

Complaint and police investigation

After discovering that he had been cheated, Gopal lodged a complaint at the Shankaranarayana police station. Based on the complaint, police registered a case of cheating and began an investigation.

The investigation was carried out under the guidance of Kundapur subdivision Deputy Superintendent of Police H D Kulkarni. Police teams analysed the details provided by the victim, including the accused’s identity, phone contacts, and movement after the incident.

Using technical inputs and local intelligence, the police traced the accused to the Kote area of Chitradurga district. A team was dispatched, and Jayaprakash was arrested without incident.

Cash and vehicle seized

During the arrest, police recovered Rs 4.50 lakh in cash from the possession of the accused. The cash is believed to be part of the money allegedly cheated from the victim.

In addition to the cash, police also seized a car worth approximately Rs 10 lakh, which was allegedly used by the accused to commit the offence and travel between districts. The vehicle has been taken into custody as part of the investigation.

Police said the recovery of a substantial portion of the cheated amount would provide partial relief to the victim, while further investigation is under way to trace the remaining money.

Accused remanded to custody

After his arrest, the accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Police are now questioning him to ascertain whether he has been involved in similar cheating cases in other parts of the state.

Investigators are also examining whether the accused acted alone or was part of a larger network involved in fake gold scams. The source of the counterfeit gold and the method used to make it appear genuine are also being probed.

Police warn public against gold scams

Police officials have cautioned the public against falling prey to offers of gold at prices significantly lower than the market rate. They said such offers are often used by fraudsters to lure victims into parting with large sums of money.

“People should avoid conducting high-value transactions in isolated locations and should verify the authenticity of gold through authorised jewellers or hallmarking centres before making any payment,” a police officer said.

Officials added that cases involving fake gold and cheating have been reported from various districts, and many victims are targeted because of their eagerness to secure quick financial gains.

Conclusion

The arrest in this case highlights the importance of prompt reporting and coordinated police action in tackling financial frauds. While the recovery of Rs 4.50 lakh and the seizure of the vehicle mark a significant breakthrough, police said investigations would continue to ensure that the accused is brought to justice and to prevent similar offences in the future. The police have once again urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious while dealing with offers that appear too good to be true.