Lucknow: Two bullion artisans, trusted for decades, have allegedly swindled 2.6 kilograms of gold and Rs 1 crore from 16 jewellers in Kanpur. Police suspect they fled to Mumbai or Nepal. The Bullion Traders Association alerted the Joint Commissioner of Police on Tuesday, prompting an FIR and formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Sampatrao Shivaji Lavete and Mahesh Vilash Maske, known for their 30-year expertise in gold melting, enjoyed the jewellers’ unwavering trust. They entrusted them with large quantities of gold, unaware of the impending scam.
On Monday, the jewellers found Lavete and Maske’s Beconganj workshop locked and their phones switched off. A similar situation greeted them at their Neelwali Gali residence, deepening their suspicion.
The Bullion Association president, Pankaj Arora, demanded immediate arrest and recovery of the stolen valuables.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Nilabja Chaudhary said that members of the Bullion Association came and informed that two bullion artisans, Sampatrao Shivaji Lavete and Mahesh Vilash Maske, who used to smelt gold, had gone missing with a huge amount of gold belonging to the traders.
Based on their complaint, an FIR has been registered under IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (breach of trust) in Bajaria police station and action has been registered.
An SIT team has been formed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Pramod Kumar said JCP further and added, “Also, Commissionerate police have issued an alert for arrest by sending the photo and description of the suspects to the authorities at Mumbai Airport authorities and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) manning Nepal border.”
DCP Kumar confirmed that they have only received written complaints about 2.6 kg of gold so far. This is reflected in the FIR, but if more jewellers come forward with similar complaints, they will be added.
Kanpur Mahanagar Sarafa Association president Pankaj Arora said their delegation had met JCP and briefed him about the fraud by two bullion artisans. “We have demanded immediate arrest of the accused besides recovery of gold and cash of victim jewellers,” said Arora.
