Mysuru: Four people who allegedly lost gold ornaments in the multi-crore gold loan scam involving Soundar Raj alias Chinnathambi were allegedly assaulted after being called for settlement talks at Srirampura, according to a complaint filed with the Kuvempunagar Police.
The incident reportedly took place on September 30, a few days after a group of victims had met Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru seeking faster investigation and recovery of their pledged gold.
Those allegedly assaulted include three men and a woman Lokesh from Electronics City and Santosh from Laggere in Bengaluru, Mahesh from Hassan and Shobha from Salundi in Mysuru taluk. The incident has added another development to the ongoing gold loan fraud case, which is being investigated by the City Crime Branch (CCB).
The allegations regarding the assault and the larger gold scam remain subject to police investigation.
Victims allegedly called for settlement
According to the report, the four victims were contacted and asked to come to Srirampura for talks aimed at reaching an amicable settlement over their gold-related claims.
The victims had reportedly pledged gold ornaments with companies associated with Chinnathambi and later alleged that they had been cheated after their valuables were not returned.
After reaching the location, Lokesh and Santosh were allegedly attacked by four men and a woman. The assailants allegedly abused the victims and assaulted them using stones and a car jack rod.
The victims reportedly suffered injuries to their heads, hands, legs, stomach and forehead during the alleged attack.
They were subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment before approaching the Kuvempunagar Police and lodging a complaint.
The police complaint forms the basis of the allegations; the identity and role of the alleged attackers will have to be established through the investigation.
Gold scam has affected several customers
The alleged assault comes against the backdrop of a larger dispute involving Chinnathambi, who is facing multiple cases connected with his gold loan businesses.
According to earlier reports, customers had pledged gold ornaments after being attracted by advertisements offering gold loans at low interest rates. Victims subsequently alleged that their gold was not returned despite repayment of the loan and applicable interest.
A September 28 report said around 500 to 600 people were believed to have been affected by the alleged multi-crore fraud. Multiple FIRs have been registered at different police stations in Mysuru, with the CCB investigating the cases.
The victims have been seeking recovery of their ornaments and action against those responsible.
The allegations against Chinnathambi are part of ongoing criminal proceedings and have not been established as facts through a final court judgment.
Victims had met Chief Minister
The latest incident occurred shortly after some of the alleged victims travelled to Bengaluru to meet Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
On September 27, women and their family members from Mysuru who said they had lost their gold ornaments met the Chief Minister at his Sadashivanagar residence.
They reportedly urged him to speed up the investigation and assist them in recovering their pledged jewellery.
The victims alleged that the investigation had taken too long and expressed concern over delays in filing the charge-sheet. They also made allegations regarding the influence of Chinnathambi and his associates. These claims were made by the victims and were not independently established in the report.
Shivakumar reportedly assured them that he would speak to the CCB officials and take steps regarding their concerns.
The meeting brought renewed attention to the case and the demands of customers seeking recovery of their gold.
CCB preparing charge-sheet
The City Crime Branch has said that investigation into the gold scam is continuing.
According to CCB Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohammad Sharif Rawathar, two separate cases have been registered against Chinnathambi alias Soundararajan.
One case has been registered under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments (KPID) Act, while another is a regular criminal case.
The ACP said CCB teams were preparing the charge-sheet. He also said proceedings relating to the valuation and seizure of the accused’s assets were under way, with an Assistant Commissioner-level officer overseeing the process.
The asset-related proceedings are significant because victims have been seeking recovery of their pledged valuables or compensation through action against the accused’s properties.
Earlier complaints over alleged threats
This is not the first time that customers involved in the case have alleged intimidation or confrontation after Chinnathambi secured bail.
In August, customers had filed a complaint alleging that Chinnathambi and his associates had summoned them to a restaurant in Kuvempunagar for settlement discussions.
The customers alleged that they were locked inside the premises, abused and assaulted and threatened with consequences if they withdrew their complaints. Seven customers reportedly approached the police in connection with those allegations.
A separate complaint was also filed by a police head constable against some of the protesting customers, alleging obstruction of a public servant during a protest outside the police station.
The separate complaints demonstrate that the gold scam dispute has resulted in several police cases involving both the accused and some of the affected customers.
Restaurant was earlier ransacked
The dispute also escalated in August when several people who had pledged gold with Chinnathambi allegedly ransacked his bar and restaurant at Srirampura Second Stage.
According to the earlier report, customers had approached the Kuvempunagar Police seeking compensation and action against the accused. Some subsequently entered the restaurant and damaged furniture and other property.
Police registered a case against around 10 to 15 people in connection with the alleged ransacking.
The episode highlighted the growing frustration among customers who claimed they were unable to recover their valuables.
However, allegations made by customers about the operation of the businesses, including claims concerning the handling of pledged gold, remain matters for investigation and legal proceedings.
Prime accused currently out on bail
Chinnathambi, identified as the prime accused in the gold scam cases, is currently out on bail, according to the latest report.
The latest alleged assault has therefore become another point of concern for victims who have been demanding action and recovery of their gold.
The Kuvempunagar Police are expected to examine the complaint filed by the four victims, identify those involved in the alleged attack and establish the circumstances under which the victims were called to Srirampura.
Investigators may also have to determine whether the alleged assault was connected to the victims’ demands for recovery of their gold and the ongoing criminal cases.
Case continues amid recovery demands
The gold loan dispute has been continuing for several months, with affected customers repeatedly approaching police and government authorities.
The victims have sought recovery of their jewellery, speedy investigation and filing of the charge-sheet. The CCB has said that the investigation and asset-related proceedings are in progress.
The latest alleged assault adds a fresh criminal complaint to an already complex set of cases arising from the dispute.
For the victims, the central issue remains recovery of their pledged gold and resolution of the cases. For investigators, the priority will be to establish the facts behind both the alleged financial fraud and the latest assault complaint.
Conclusion
Four alleged victims of the Mysuru multi-crore gold loan scam were reportedly assaulted after being called to Srirampura for settlement talks. They later approached the Kuvempunagar Police. The incident comes as the CCB continues its investigation into multiple cases involving Chinnathambi, while victims seek recovery of their gold and faster legal action. The allegations in both the scam and assault cases remain subject to investigation.