Gold in the Soil: Surat Men’s Elaborate Scam in Kerala

In a high-profile arrest, Kerala Police apprehended four Gujarat natives for duping Tamil Nadu goldsmiths by falsely claiming to sell gold-laden soil, swindling them of crores. The perpetrators meticulously executed the scam using a hidden syringe to deceive victims, prompting a full-scale investigation.

In a significant bust, Kerala Police arrested four individuals from Gujarat on charges of defrauding goldsmiths in Tamil Nadu. The elaborate scheme involved convincing victims to purchase soil supposedly containing gold particles.

The suspects, identified as Sandeep Hasmukh Bhai, Vipul Manji Bhai, Dharmesh Bhai, and Krupesh Bhai, allegedly swindled the victims out of Rs 50 lakh in cash and instruments each worth Rs 18 lakh. Police say the men had rented space in Palarivattom, promising the soil was sourced from a gold ornament factory. To maintain the ruse, they went so far as to inject gold into sample soil bags.

Spurred into action, law enforcement utilized CCTV footage to locate and apprehend the suspects. Further investigations have uncovered similar fraudulent activities linked to the accused in Tamil Nadu locations, underscoring the elaborate nature of their criminal operations. The accused have been remanded into judicial custody while inquiries continue.

(With inputs from agencies.)