Nashik police have arrested five members of an inter-state gang for allegedly cheating a 51-year-old businessman of Rs26 lakh by selling him fake gold jewellery.
The victim, Dinesh Mehta of Malad (West), was approached on November 26 by Baboolal Bhalaram Waghela, 55, who claimed to have discovered 900 grams of gold ornaments at a temple excavation site in Nashik. Waghela offered Mehta to buy the ornaments directly or through a middleman, showing him samples that tested as real gold.
Convinced, Mehta paid ₹25 lakh, only to later discover that the ornaments were fake. He registered a complaint with Malad police on December 5.
Investigations led police to five accused, including Waghela, who was arrested from Kalol, Gandhinagar. A search of his residence recovered ₹15.45 lakh, believed to be part of the cheated amount. Waghela revealed that his wife, Kokubai Baboolal Waghela (50), was also involved. The other arrested suspects are Manglaram Manaram Wagri (34), Kesararam Bhagtaram Wagri (41), and Bhavarlal Baboolal Wagri (48), all employed at a photo-frame shop. One accused remains absconding.
The accused, originally from Jalore, Rajasthan, reportedly operate across states. Waghela has prior cheating cases in Kalol and Sabarmati, Gujarat. Police continue efforts to trace the remaining money and apprehend the absconding gang member.
