Kodagu Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Ramarajan recently informed in press conference that Kodagu district police have cracked down case and arrested 12 persons who were involved in pledging fake gold in Kodagu District Co-operative Central Bank (KDCC) to secure loans.
The arrested persons are Mohammad Rizwan.KA, 35 years, Kunjila Village Kakkabbe, 2. Riazpi.H 39 years, Padiani Emmemadu Village, Napoklu., 3. Abdul Naseer, 50 years, Kunjila Village Kakkabbe., 4. Navas.K P, 47 years, Malappuram District, Kerala State, 5. Nishad.KA, 43 years, Ernakulam District, Kerala State, 6. Muhammad Kunha.C.M. 48 years, Ernakulam District, Kerala State 7. Pradeep.P J, 60 years, Ernakulam District. State of Kerala., 8. Musa.BA, 37 years, Padiani Emmemadu Village, Napoklu., 9. Muhammad Anif.MM, 42 years, Padiani Emmemadu Village, Napoklu., 10. Khatija, 32 years, Padiani Emmemadu Village, Napoklu., 11 Rafeeq, 38 years, Iyengeri, Bhagamandala, 12. Pharan, 33 years, Iyengeri, Bhagamandala.
SP also gave details of special investigation team that traced the absconding accused in a total of 08 separate cases in the police stations. Mahesh Kumar, Dy SP Madikeri Sub Division, Ravi, DySP, Police Station, Raju.P.K, CPI, Madikeri Town Circle, Anoop Madappa.P, CPI, Madikeri Rural Circle, Medappa, PI, DCRB, Kodagu District, Lokesh, PSI, Madikeri Town Police Station, Shobha Lamani, PSI, Bhagamandal Police Station, Subdivision level crime detection staff and DCRB and Technical Staff.
The police team has seized 28 gold-plated bangles weighing 223 grams, cash worth Rs 2 lakh, Rs 2.08 lakh in bank accounts, investments worth Rs 1.08 lakh in insurance and an iPhone valued at Rs 1.40 lakh from the accused. SP also informed that the accused team had pledged a total of 625 grams of fake gold jewellery in various bank branches and in private financial company also in the district and had taken loan of about Rs 34.95 lakh.
Speaking further SP P K Ramarajan said that eight cases were registered against the accused in Madikeri town, Virajpet town and rural also at Bhagamandala police stations. The prime accused, Pradeep, had a total of 15 cases, including three registered current year, while Nishad had four, including that of a robbery. SP also said that the team members committed crimes repeatedly after being released on bail so SP added that an objection will be submitted to the competent court not to grant bail to the accused.
The brain behind this crime was Mohammad Kunhi from Kerala, a jewellery maker who was arranging funds to Pradeep (60) to furnish a gold coating of about 1.5 grams on the bangles which is undetectable even by skilled gold valuers. These fake bangles will then pledged at various banks to avail loans. Middleman Nishad acquired the fake gold and handed it over to Nawaz, extending the network to Kodagu, said the police. Mohammad Rizwan who recently planned to pledge eight gold bangles at the District Cooperative Central Bank’s Madikeri main branch after inspection it was found that the bangles were not gold but fake gold ornaments, so the bank people lodged a complaint at Police Station, SP informed.
