Gujarat police arrest sadhvi in Rs 5-cr fraud case

The Gujarat Police has booked three persons and arrested a sadhvi (woman sadhu) in a Rs 5.2-crore cheating case. The police also recovered Rs 1.29 crore in cash and 2.4 kg of gold bars from Palanpur of Banaskantha district in north Gujarat.

Jeweler Pritesh Shah filed a complaint with the local police that he had in November loaned sadhvi Jayshree Giri and her associates gold ornaments worth Rs 5.2 crore. However, despite repeated requests, when the jeweler did not receive any payment in lieu of the gold, he approached the police.

“She not only refused to pay for the gold she had taken, but had even taken money from some local jewelers promising them to deliver gold at cheaper rates,” a senior police official said.

Based on the complaint, the police raided Jayshree’s residence on Thursday. “The search operation at her place of residence led to the recovery of 24 gold biscuits of 100 gm each (worth Rs 80 lakh) and Rs 1.29 crore in Rs 2,000 denomination notes,” DSP Niraj Badgujar told mediapersons. “So far, we have registered complaints against three persons and arrested the kingpin, sadhvi Jayshree Giri,” the official said. Nearly 22 bottles of liquor were also recovered from her residence.