The Greater Chennai Police on Saturday announced the arrest of two men who posed as officials from the Income Tax (I-T) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) departments. The duo allegedly duped a jeweller from Tiruchy of ₹40 lakh by falsely claiming they could procure gold bullion from banks at rates lower than the market price.
The case came to light when M Pravin, son of the victim, Murugan (a jeweller), lodged a formal complaint. According to the complaint, in 2021, Gurusampath Kumar and S Lakshminarayanan approached Murugan at his shop in the Elephant Gate area, North Chennai. They introduced themselves as officials working in the I-T and GST departments.
Gurusampath Kumar claimed he could use his position to arrange gold bullion at discounted rates. Trusting their assurances, Murugan handed over ₹40 lakh in cash. However, the duo failed to deliver the promised gold. When Murugan contacted them to inquire, the accused allegedly issued threats of physical harm.
Following a detailed investigation, the Elephant Gate police station arrested G Sampathkumar (42) of Mayiladuthurai and S Lakshminarayanan (46) of Puducherry. Law enforcement also seized a car displaying markings resembling official government vehicles.
The police have urged citizens to verify the credentials of individuals claiming to represent government departments to avoid falling victim to such scams. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether the duo was involved in other fraudulent activities.
Key Takeaways
- Always verify the identity of individuals claiming to represent government departments.
- Avoid cash transactions based on unverifiable assurances.
- Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement promptly.
This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and highlights the proactive efforts of the Greater Chennai Police in curbing such fraudulent schemes.
CAclubindia
