A 63-year-old farmer in Nagpur fell victim to a clever gold swindle on Monday when two impostors posing as police officers tricked him into handing over his ornaments worth ₹4.35 lakh. The incident occurred in Khaparkheda, where the men swapped the genuine jewellery with fake pieces before fleeing.
How the fraud unfolded
Hiraman Patil, a resident of Bhilgaon, was riding his motorcycle to his farm in Waregaon Shivara. Around 8:15 am, while buying milk at Waregaon Chowk, two men on a motorcycle approached him and claimed to be police officers. Later, near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hostel on Suradevi Road, they stopped him again. Citing concerns about theft, they asked Patil to remove his gold ornaments and place them in the trunk of their vehicle for safety.
Patil complied, handing over two gold rings weighing 50 grams and three additional gold rings weighing 37 grams. The impostors wrapped the jewellery in white paper, allegedly swapping it with duplicates, and then fled the scene. Patil only discovered the fraud upon reaching his farm.
Police investigation
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Khaparkheda police station. Authorities are investigating the incident and searching for the suspects.
This incident highlights the audacity of criminals who exploit the trust citizens place in uniformed personnel. Residents are advised to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer and to report suspicious activity immediately.
