SRINAGAR: Jammu Police have recovered Rs 62 lakh in a multi-crore fake gemstone fraud and returned the amount to a Hyderabad-based businessman who was duped in an alleged sale of counterfeit Kashmir Blue Sapphires.
“The case was registered at Police Station Bahu Fort following a complaint by Mir Firasath Ali Khan, who reported being cheated of Rs 3 crore by a group posing as sellers of rare gemstones. The accused had attempted to sell him fake Kashmir Blue Sapphires valued at Rs 25 crore,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
“A special investigation was launched under SDPO Bakshi Nagar Dr. Satish Bhardwaj, under the supervision of SSP Jammu Joginder Singh and SP South Ajay Sharma. The probe revealed a wider fraud network involving Mohammed Rayaz, son of Reham Ali, originally from Gurdan Bala, Rajouri, now residing in Chinore, Jammu; and Mohammed Taj Khan, son of Haji Jumma Khan, resident of Potha Surankote, Poonch, currently based in Meenia Mohalla, Trikuta Nagar,” police said.
Police recovered fake sapphire necklaces and other forged items during searches. “Rs 62 lakh was seized from Rayaz and his associates and returned to the complainant after court approval. The investigation also revealed that part of the defrauded amount was used to purchase property. Police have initiated proceedings to attach the property under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a new legal provision enabling the seizure of assets acquired through crime and prioritising victim restitution.”
The complainant thanked the police for their swift action and appreciated the role of the investigating team in recovering the amount.
