CHENNAI: Four men were arrested by the Egmore police for cheating a gold wholesale dealer of Rs 63 lakh by promising to supply gold at a discounted price.The prime accused remains absconding, and a special team has been formed to trace him.The complainant, Anmol Jain, a gold trader from Aminjikarai, runs a wholesale gold business with his relative, Namith.According to the police, Namith informed Anmol on July 17 about a person who was willing to sell gold at a lower price and asked him to strike a deal.Acting on the information, Anmol arranged for Rs 63 lakh to be brought to Fountain Plaza in Egmore by his employee, Rajendra Jain.Police said Anmol met the suspect identified as Sriram, who introduced him to Sakthi and his father, Santhakumar. The duo claimed they operated a jewellery business at Fountain Plaza and could supply gold in bulk at a discounted price.Believing their claims, Anmol handed over Rs 63 lakh to the accused Sakthi and he informed Anmol that he would deposit the money upstairs and return with the gold and the purchase receipt before leaving the spot.Soon afterwards, Santhakumar pretended to receive a phone call and directed Anmol to wait at the sweets restaurant near the Gemini Flyover, stating that the gold would be delivered there.When no one arrived and Sriram gave inconsistent responses over the phone, Anmol realised he had been cheated and lodged a complaint with the Egmore police.Based on the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested Santhakumar, Sriram, Ramkumar and Udaykiran.During the operation, officers seized Rs 50,000 in cash and two motorcycles believed to have been used in connection with the offence.Police said the main accused, Sakthi, remained absconding.A special team has been assigned to arrest him.The other arrested four suspects were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.
