In a significant crackdown on counterfeit gold smuggling, three men suspected of being part of an interstate fake gold racket were arrested on Sunday in the Hangoon area of Kakching district, Manipur.
The accused have been identified as:
Shivaji Gaikwad (39) from Belavade village, Maharashtra
Jalindar Shamrao Jadhav (42) from Mohi village, Maharashtra
Ramdas Tanaji Khandare (37) from Howrah, West Bengal
According to police, the trio was involved in manufacturing and distributing fake gold bars, using low-grade materials and fraudulent hallmark stamps to make them appear genuine. They reportedly operated as part of a wider interstate counterfeiting network.
Authorities seized a large cache of gold-forging equipment from the suspects’ possession, including:
A hydraulic machine
Melting equipment
94 graphite crucibles
Tongs and carbon rods
Nitric acid bottles
A hydraulic power pack
Carbon rod holders
A digital clamp metre
The Manipur police control room confirmed the bust and stated that investigations are ongoing to trace the broader network across other states.
