Treasure Tale Trap

Police in Chhattisgarh's Durg district have arrested five individuals for allegedly running an elaborate fake gold racket, where they lured victims with stories of buried treasure before selling counterfeit biscuits at half the market price. The arrests were made from Utai police station area following a complaint from a local resident.

The accused would convince people that they had stumbled upon a hidden pot of gold underground, complete with old coins and golden biscuits. Once they gained trust, they offered to sell the metal at unusually low rates—claiming it was genuine gold recovered from ancestral treasure.

Half-Price Lure That Worked

The masterminds specifically targeted rural areas where residents might be more susceptible to such stories. Their pitch was simple: why pay full market price when you could own the same gold for half the cost?

Investigations revealed that the gang manufactured the fake gold themselves, using a combination of metals that closely resembled the real thing in appearance. The biscuits looked convincing enough to pass casual inspection, and the promise of quick profits did the rest.

Victim's Suspicion Led to Arrests

The breakthrough came when Jitendra Sahu, a resident of Borsi, grew suspicious after an initial transaction. According to police sources, the accused had first sold him fake gold worth Rs 10,000. They then claimed to have more—much more—from the same "discovery" and offered it at half the prevailing market rate.

Instead of falling for the expanded offer, Sahu alerted authorities. Police laid a trap and arrested Dinesh Kumar Tandon (50), Pannalal Kurre (42), Ganeshram Gandharv (56), Ramswaroop Raute (30), and Bhanupratap Dahria (40).

What Police Recovered

Authorities seized approximately 1.242 kg of gold-like counterfeit metal biscuits from the accused. A fake coin, a WagonR car used in the crime, and several mobile phones were also confiscated.

Preliminary investigation suggests the gang has been active across multiple districts. Pannalal reportedly has a history of similar offences, while Tandon faces prior cases related to assault and property crimes.

Lab Test Underway

ASP Rural Manishankar Chandra confirmed that the seized fake gold has been sent to a forensic lab for analysis. "Only after the lab report arrives will it be clear which metals were used to manufacture the counterfeit biscuits," he said.

Police are now investigating whether the gang operated in other parts of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. Three of the accused—Pannalal from Korba, Ganeshram from Kawardha, and Ramswaroop from Madhya Pradesh's Dindori district—hail from outside Durg, suggesting a wider network.

Public Caution Advised

Officials have urged residents, particularly in rural pockets, to exercise caution when approached with such claims. No buried treasure, police note, comes with a half-price discount.