Porbandar: In a success for law enforcement agencies, five members of a gang that deceived people across several states with false promises of cheap gold, diamonds, and even see-through goggles were arrested on the Porbandar-Dwarka highway.

The accused have been identified as Bharat Lathiya (58), Popat Odedara (38), Narendra Gauswami (38), Ashok Darbar (29) and Kamlesh Zapadiya (24). 

According to police, Lathiya was the kingpin of the whole racket. 

See-Through Glasses Scam: Gang Dupe People with False Promises

Their modus operandi is to lure people with gold and diamonds at cheaper-than-market prices, glasses that show people nude, auspicious peacock feathers, conch and other such items. They have scammed people in multiple states and Nepal to,” said a senior officer from Kirti Mandir police station.

Promises Jewellers of Cheap Gold, Beats Up One Trader

Police said that the modus operandi adopted by the gang was to lure people with offers of gold and diamonds at below-market prices, glasses that allegedly revealed nudity, and other items like auspicious peacock feathers, conch shells, and more.

“A complaint was registered by a jeweller in this regard. They have scammed people in multiple states and Nepal to,” said a senior officer from Kirti Mandir police station,” police official said. 

In his complaint, the jeweller stated that a man named Lakhman Sadiya entered his shop on October 18 and claimed to have ties with a major business group in Jaipur involved in trading Hong Kong gold imported through Nepal.

Sadiya offered the jeweller a 15% discount on gold, assuring him that payment would only be required after verifying its authenticity. 

Intrigued, jeweller agreed to meet Sadiya in Jaipur to inspect the gold. On October 19, he set off with Sadiya and two others, with another accomplice joining them from Gandhinagar.

After a visit to the Nathdwara temple, they continued their journey toward Jaipur. However, they stopped at a remote location along the way, where they attacked jeweller, forcing him to call his son and arrange for Rs 20 lakh to be sent via an angadiya. Once the money was transferred, they confiscated his mobile phone and sent him on a bus to Ahmedabad.

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, police said.