Five posing as DVAC personnel cheat gold trader of Rs 13 lakh

Police said Nowzath, 39 and Abinesh, 27, both gold traders hailing from Thalassery in Kerala had visited Coimbatore in a car on Wednesday evening to purchase jewels from a smithy.

They had parked their car in Sivananda Colony and got down to visit the smithy. Then, five persons came in two cars and introduced themselves as sleuths of DVAC. “The fake cops took the duo in their car claiming to inquire them as they appeared suspicious. They also questioned the source of Rs 13 lakhs in their possession. The fake cops dropped the duo near Sanganur Bridge asking them to get their money back on furnishing proper documents,” police said. On suspicion, Nowzath and Abinesh approached the nearby Rathinapuri police, who called up the DVAC office and confirmed that no such cash seizure was made. On receiving a complaint, a team led by Coimbatore city Deputy Commissioner Perumal visited the scene of crime and held inquiries. Meanwhile, police suspect the role of Abinesh in the robbery as he gave contradictory replies in the inquiry. “We suspect the five men to be his friends. Abinesh, who was accompanying Nowzath had conceived the plan to loot and later staged a drama to police. He is being grilled to nab others and seize the money,” police said.