Pramesh S Jain
The Central crime branch police have registered a cheating case against a couple for duping hundreds of investors and on the run with five kiolgrams worth gold valuables .
Based on complaint filed by Jabeer PM,a social activist, who introduced the customers to the accused,couple, the CCB on Saturday charged the couple under criminal breach of trust and cheating and efforts are on to track them down.
According to the complaint the couple identified as Salaam Manakat and his wife Zareena had opened a gold shop Emirates Gold Pawn Brokers in MS Palya in August last year,offering interest free gold loan from five to 11 months for poor people.
Jabeer went to the shop along with this friend Anees to confirm and decided to help.He returned to his native place in Mudigere and told the scheme with his friends and relatives .
Excited wit the offer,many of his friends and relatives availed the loan by pledging their gold from August last year to April this year total amount to five kilograms.
The accused transferred the loan amount up to 60 percent of the pledge gold valuables to the people and even issued receipt and invoices .
The cheating came to light few days ago when one of the customer paid the money online and asked for his gold.The accused sought two days time to get his gold from the locker .
After two days when the customer tried to contact the mobile phone was switched off and the shop was closed .
Inquiries from the nieghbours revealed that the couple along with their salesman were not seen for the past few days .
The police have advised people to be careful while pledging their gold and availing loan .
