Fake hallmarked gold jewellery: plaint lodged

A complaint has been filed against a woman for exchanging spuriously hallmarked impure gold jewellery with original gold, worth Rs 86,000, from the branch of a leading jewellery chain in Udupi.

The accused, identified as Saritha Pandey, had told the staff at the showroom that she would exchange her ‘hallmarked’ gold jewellery, weighing 26 gms, on January 29. She handed over the jewellery, which had a fake 916 purity hallmark, to a person at the store and purchased original gold ornaments. The difference amount of Rs 2,750 was also returned to Saritha by the staff.

Later, when the gold given by the woman was tested, copper content was found in it.

Branch Manager of the store, Hafiz Rehman filed a complaint.

Rehman in his complaint has stated that a woman had also tried to hoodwink the staff in Mysuru branch as well on February 2 with the fake hallmarked impure gold jewellery. The staff at Mysuru tipped off the police and she was arrested.

Police is conducting investigation to ascertain if it was the same woman, who had cheated in Udupi, who was arrested in Mysuru. A case is registered in Udupi police station.