Nagpur: A police constable attached to Sitabuldi Police Station and wife of a suspended policeman were arrested by Tehsil Police on Monday for duping a jeweller to the tune of Rs 12 lakh on the pretext of selling gold at cheaper price.
The accused have been identified as Pankaj Budhdam Ramteke (40), a resident of Bhamti, Trimurti Nagar and Pallavi Kamlesh Jawlekar (32), a resident of Police Headquarters. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Ravi Gajanan Lolge (38), a resident of Trimurti Nagar.
According to police the accused Pankaj was working with DB Squad of Sitabuldi Police Station while Pallavi’s husband Kamlesh was working with Wadi Police Station. Ravi and Pankaj were living in the same locality and they were childhood friends. Ravi is an owner of Sanvi Jewellers in Trimurti Nagar. Being a friend, Pankaj used to visit Ravi’s shop. On February 10, Pankaj went to the shop and inquired about the market rate of gold. Soon after, he offered to provide gold at a cheaper rate and the offer was accepted by Ravi. On the next day, Pankaj gave him 100 grams of gold for Rs 4.90 lakh. Within a week, Pankaj again sold 100 grams of gold at just Rs 4.60 lakh. In this way, gold worth Rs 28 lakhs was purchased by Ravi from Pankaj within a week, the official said.
Later Pankaj informed Ravi about the availability of 650 grams of gold. Ravi told Pankaj that he does not have that much money. Pankaj then said that Pallavi Javlekar, the owner of the gold, is also ready to sell 300 grams of gold. The deal was fixed at Rs 12 lakh, police stated. Ravi went to the Medicine Market in Gandhibagh to collect the gold where he met Pankaj and Pallavi. Pankaj collected the cash bag from Ravi and handed-over to Pallavi and asked Ravi to follow them. The two stopped outside a jewellery shop at Tanga Stand and Pallavi went inside the shop. . She came out after a few hours and was informed about the non-availability of gold. Pankaj and Pallavi promised Ravi that they would make the gold available on the next day. Later, the two started rejecting phone calls from Ravi.
After realising the fraud, Ravi approached DCP Zone III Gajanan Rajmane and lodged a complaint. A case under provisions of Indian Penal Code was registered at Tehsil Police Station. The accused were arrested by the police and produced before the court. The court remanded them to two-day police custody.
