Jagalur, Vijayanagar District: In a swift operation named ‘Operation Fake Coin’, the Jagalur Police arrested two men involved in a Rs 8 lakh scam involving fake gold coins. The accused, Marappa (58) and Prakash (29), both residents of Battanahalli village, Kottur taluk, were caught following a complaint from the victim, Ramavat Bhaskar, of Chalakurthi Tanda in Telangana’s Nalgonda district.
The scam unfolded when Bhaskar was lured by the trio, claiming to possess half a kilogram of genuine gold coins. Trusting them, Bhaskar paid Rs 8 lakh near Kananakatte village in Jagalur taluk. However, he later found the coins to be counterfeit.
The third accused, Suresh, a lorry driver from Hampi and a former acquaintance of Bhaskar, had convinced him to travel to Ballari for the transaction. After handing over the fake coins and collecting cash, the accused fled the scene.
Following Bhaskar’s complaint, police under the leadership of PI Sidramayya conducted a targeted operation, resulting in the arrests of Marappa and Prakash. Authorities recovered Rs 7.5 lakh in cash, 505 grams of fake gold coins, and 2 grams of genuine gold coins from the duo.
Efforts are ongoing to track down Suresh, who remains at large. Police have advised the public to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of precious metal transactions to avoid falling victim to similar frauds.
