Authorities in Gokak have dismantled a gang orchestrating a money duplication scam, officials said on Tuesday. Among the seven arrested were two police officers from Maharashtra, Anant Prakash Narawade and Dildar Rabbani Shaikh.
The gang lured victims by claiming they could multiply money using a special chemical process. Victims handed over genuine currency notes and were shown staged demonstrations in which Rs500 notes appeared to transform into larger amounts after heating and powder treatments.
The scam occurred in a residence near a Srinagar Temple. After the demonstrations, victims realized they had been defrauded as the perpetrators fled with the original cash.
Police recovered a heating machine, black liquid, blank paper, mobile phones, and a small sum of cash from the arrested individuals. Authorities are continuing investigations to determine if more victims were targeted and to identify any other gang members involved.
