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Goldsmith allegedly cheated of Rs 1.3 crore in divine gold scam
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Goldsmith allegedly cheated of Rs 1.3 crore in divine gold scam
Bengaluru: A goldsmith in Bengaluru has allegedly been cheated of Rs 1.3 crore by a man who claimed to possess gold obtained through divine blessings and promised that purchasing it would bring prosperity and business growth.
The accused, identified as Bhutham Lingayya, a native of Telangana, allegedly collected the money from Selvaraj Achari over a period of around two-and-a-half years. Selvaraj has lodged a complaint with the City Market police, who have registered a case and launched a search for the accused. According to the complaint, Lingayya initially gained the confidence of Selvaraj’s family by providing medication for his granddaughter-in-law’s asthma. He later reportedly offered treatment for Selvaraj’s backache and knee pain, strengthening the family’s trust in him.
The accused subsequently claimed that he possessed five kilograms of gold obtained through divine grace. He allegedly told Selvaraj that purchasing the precious metal would improve his financial position and help his business flourish. To convince the goldsmith, Lingayya reportedly handed him a sample of the gold for verification. After the sample was found to be genuine, Selvaraj allegedly believed the accused’s claims and agreed to the proposed transaction.
The complaint further states that Lingayya instructed Selvaraj to perform prayers before the gold and keep the arrangement secret from his family. Trusting the accused, Selvaraj allegedly paid him Rs 1.3 crore in instalments over approximately 30 months. To arrange the money, he reportedly sold land and gold jewellery belonging to family members.
Lingayya later allegedly told Selvaraj that his father was unwell and that he needed to return to his native place. He subsequently failed to return and switched off his mobile phone. Suspecting that he had been cheated, Selvaraj approached the police. City Market police are investigating the allegations and attempting to trace the accused.
