Fake Gold Scam Uncovered in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Kolkata Police Arrest Key Accused
KOLKATA, July 15: Kolkata Police have arrested a key member of a nationwide fake gold racket operating out of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, exposing a wide network of fraudsters who have been producing counterfeit gold jewellery and using it to secure loans across India. According to police officials, the accused, identified as Dharam Singh, was arrested in Bharatpur during a covert operation led by officers from the city’s Parnasree police station. The operation followed the death of a suspected fraudster who was lynched in Kolkata’s Parnasree area after allegedly trying to use fake gold to secure a loan. Another accused was seriously injured in the same incident, prompting a deeper investigation. Dharam Singh, said to be a key figure in the syndicate, was apprehended by officers posing as buyers of fake gold. Several counterfeit ornaments were recovered from him at the time of arrest. The investigation revealed that multiple small-scale factories in Bharatpur are manufacturing fake gold jewellery that closely resembles real gold, both in appearance and weight, making detection difficult without thorough testing. The counterfeit items are often pawned to obtain large sums in loans rather than sold outright. Parnasree police traced the operation to Bharatpur after interrogating Deepak Singh, who was arrested for attempting to secure a ₹1.1 million ($13,000) loan using fake gold. He disclosed information that led the officers to the inter-state racket’s hub. However, Kolkata Police faced resistance while conducting raids in Bharatpur, which lies near the borders of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Local law enforcement allegedly discouraged night-time operations, citing safety concerns due to the area’s proximity to the Chambal ravines, a region historically known for criminal hideouts. Upon learning of the impending crackdown, several gang members reportedly fled towards Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Despite this, Dharam Singh was successfully apprehended and brought to Kolkata for interrogation. Police say further raids may be conducted in Bharatpur to capture additional suspects identified during questioning. Authorities believe the racket has defrauded financial institutions and gold dealers across multiple states and are expanding the investigation in coordination with other state police forces.
