Gold Heist in Ahmedabad: Conmen Use Fake Notes with Bollywood Actor’s Anupam Kher Image to Steal ₹1.30 Crore
Massive Gold Heist in Ahmedabad: Fake Notes Featuring Bollywood Actor Used in Scam
In Ahmedabad’s Navrangpura area, a massive fraud took place where a gang managed to escape with gold worth crores by using counterfeit currency featuring Bollywood actor Anupam Kher’s photo. The incident unfolded when a bullion dealer fell prey to a scheme where the culprits posed as legitimate gold buyers and tricked him into handing over gold, only to leave behind fake notes.
A Major Gold Purchase Turns into a Scam
A major gold purchase deal worth ₹1.60 crore was set up between Mehul Thakkar, a bullion dealer from Manek Chowk, and a party posing as customers interested in buying 2,100 grams of gold. The deal was facilitated through Lakshmi Jewellers, a trusted contact of Mehul for the past 15 years. On the day of delivery, the gold buyer claimed they would provide cash upfront due to unavailability of RTGS transfers, offering ₹1.30 crore in counterfeit notes as security for the gold.
Gold Delivered, But the Scam Unfolds
On September 24, Mehul’s employee, Bharat Joshi, arrived at the Angadia office to deliver the gold. Three men were present, one of whom posed as the buyer. The scammers placed bundles of ₹500 notes on the table, amounting to ₹1.30 crore. The conmen convinced Bharat to hand over the gold, promising to return with an additional ₹30 lakh. As Bharat began counting the money, the men left, taking the gold. It was only during the counting process that it became clear the notes were fake, and shockingly, Gandhi’s image had been replaced with that of actor Anupam Kher.
Immediate Police Action
The Navrangpura Police have begun investigations, reviewing CCTV footage from the area to track the suspects. Police suspect that the criminals had opened a fake Angadia office days earlier as part of a pre-planned operation. Mehul Thakkar immediately lodged a complaint, and police are now searching for the culprits based on the footage.
