Mumbai: In a shocking incident, an Indian-origin American national was duped of Rs1.3 crore worth of gold jewellery by an agent and his accomplice on Thursday night. LT Marg police registered a case against the duo and are looking for them. According to the police, a Chicago resident came to Mumbai recently for some work. During his visit, he sold gold ornaments worth lakhs to a gold agent, Ramesh Mali, from Dhanji Street. A few days ago, the victim expressed his desire to sell more ornaments, which belonged to his mother-in-law. The American national consulted Mali, and later, showed up with the jewellery on Thursday.
An officer of the LT Marg police said, “American national met Mali at his office at Dhanji Street on Thursday night. Mali checked the jewellery weighing 3.865 kgs and agreed to give Rs1.3 crore in return.” Mali took the ornaments and asked the complainant to go with his assistant Mukesh to collect the money. The American national accompanied Mukesh to the building and was asked to wait outside. After a while, the complainant suspected he was cheated by Mukesh. Taking a leaf straight out of a Bollywood film, when the American national questioned Mali, he told him the Income-Tax department had their premises. He reassured him Mukesh would return.
After a long wait, the American national returned to the Mali’s office on Dhanji Street only to find it shut. The American national approached the LT Marg police station and registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the duo. “We have registered an offence under relevant sections for criminal breach of trust (409), cheating (420) and common intention (34) of the Indian Penal Code. A manhunt has been launched to nab the accused duo,” said the LT Marg police officer.
- SACHIN GAAD
