In a shocking case of impersonation and high-value theft, two individuals, including a courier company employee, were arrested on Saturday for posing as GST officials and stealing gold jewellery consignments worth Rs 2.4 crore in Chennai earlier this month.
The accused allegedly intercepted a two-wheeler carrying approximately 1.5 kg of gold jewellery parcels near the Guindy flyover after falsely identifying themselves as GST officers.
How the Incident Unfolded
The case came to light following a complaint lodged by V Ravalsingh, 30, who operates a private courier firm in Sowcarpet, Chennai.
On February 6, Ravalsingh instructed two employees - Govaram from his courier firm and Jitender Kumar, who worked for another courier company in the same building to collect gold jewellery consignments from the cargo terminal at Chennai International Airport.
The parcels, weighing approximately 1.5 kg, were reportedly valued at Rs 2.4 crore.
The two employees left on a two-wheeler but failed to return for several hours. Their mobile phones were switched off, raising suspicion.
Later in the afternoon, Govaram contacted Ravalsingh using an auto driver's phone. He claimed that two men, identifying themselves as GST officials from Chengalpet, intercepted them near the Guindy Flyover.
According to his statement:
- The accused seized the gold parcels and their mobile phones.
- They forced both employees into an auto-rickshaw.
- They were later dropped near Perungalathur.
Police Investigation Reveals Inside Job
Based on the complaint, the Guindy Police Station registered a case and launched an investigation.
However, during interrogation, the police noticed inconsistencies in the statements given by the two employees:
- Jitender claimed the impersonators were Tamil-speaking locals.
- Govaram stated they appeared to be North Indians.
This contradiction raised red flags.
Further investigation revealed that Jitender Kumar had contacted his associates from Rajasthan and orchestrated the staged robbery. Police confirmed that Govaram was unaware of the conspiracy.
Arrests Made
Following the investigation, police arrested:
- Jitender Kumar (31)
- Dhanraj Sharma (30)
Authorities are now probing whether the accused are linked to other similar GST impersonation cases.
Rising Cases of GST Officer Impersonation
This incident highlights a growing trend where fraudsters pose as GST officials to carry out seizures, extortion, or theft. Businesses are advised to:
- Verify the identity cards of enforcement officers
- Cross-check official GST department authorisation letters
- Contact local police immediately in suspicious situations
- Ensure secure transit protocols for high-value consignments
Legal Implications
Impersonating government officials and committing theft attracts severe penalties under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and robbery.
The police are continuing their investigation to recover the stolen gold jewellery and identify other possible accomplices.
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