Punjab, India — Police have arrested a woman and her son for allegedly attempting to defraud a jeweller by selling a counterfeit gold brick, claiming it was real. The fake gold brick was seized on the spot. Both suspects, identified as Neeraj and his mother Sunita from Mansa, Punjab, have been remanded to three days of police custody for further investigation.
The complaint was filed by jeweller Munish Verma, a resident of Budhanpur, on September 8. According to Munish, a young man came to his shop claiming to own a gold brick inherited from his grandfather and expressed his desire to sell it. Suspicious, the jeweller tested the brick and found it to be brass or a similar fake metal.
When Munish confronted the man, his mother arrived and insisted the brick was genuine gold. Upon interrogation, Neeraj and Sunita admitted to previously carrying out a similar scam. They confessed to buying fake gold bricks from Pathankot and selling one to a roadside food joint owner in Amritsar for Rs 2.5 lakh. Neeraj kept Rs 2 lakh and gave Rs 50,000 to his mother.
The duo then bought another fake brick intending to sell it in Panchkula. However, their plan was foiled thanks to the vigilance of the jeweller and prompt police action.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Srishti Gupta stated that the suspects have been remanded for three days to determine the extent of their fraud activities and trace the defrauded money. Police are also working to identify other possible accomplices.
Investigations continue as authorities seek to uncover the full scope of the scam.
