NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 16(NVI): Police in Srinagar today unearthed a major scam involving counterfeit gold ornaments, leading to the arrest of a fraudulent goldsmith and the seizure of fake jewellery from Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The case came to light on January 9, when Nisar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Bindoo Kokernag currently living in Srinagar, filed a complaint at Police Station Nowhatta. Bhat, who works as a storekeeper at Lalmandi, reported that he had purchased gold ornaments from Mehraj Din Qazi, the proprietor of M/S Soliya Ornaments in Bijbehara. Upon closer inspection, the jewellery turned out to be fake.
Acting on the complaint, police registered FIR No. 02/2025 under relevant sections of law and launched an investigation. The accused, Mehraj Din Qazi, son of Gh Mohammad Qazi and a resident of Bijbehara, was swiftly arrested, and the counterfeit ornaments were seized.
During interrogation, Qazi confessed to duping customers by embossing fake hallmarks on non-gold items. It was also revealed that he had been delivering these counterfeit ornaments to various locations across Srinagar City, including Nowhatta.
Laboratory tests confirmed that the seized jewellery was counterfeit, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover additional links in the fraudulent network.
Srinagar Police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to such scams, particularly involving the sale of gold at unusually low prices.
This swift action reflects the Srinagar Police’s commitment to protecting citizens from fraudulent activities and ensuring that justice is served. (News Vibes of India)
