Chennai CID Cracks Down on Elaborate Interstate Iridium Trading Scam
The State Crime Branch CID in Chennai has successfully dismantled a sophisticated interstate criminal gang involved in a large-scale iridium trading fraud scheme. The operation led to the arrest of six individuals who allegedly impersonated senior Reserve Bank of India officials, defrauding 23 victims across the country of a staggering 5.65 crore rupees.
Complaint from Coimbatore Resident Triggers Investigation
The breakthrough in this complex case originated from a formal complaint filed by a resident of Coimbatore who reported being defrauded of 3 crore rupees. Following this complaint, authorities registered a comprehensive case encompassing multiple serious offences including cheating, criminal conspiracy, impersonation of RBI officials, and forgery using the RBI's official name and logo.
Modus Operandi of the Fraudulent Gang
According to police investigations, the gang employed a carefully orchestrated deception strategy. They initially approached potential victims while posing as legitimate businessmen engaged in the iridium trade. Victims were falsely informed that several crores of rupees were deposited with the Reserve Bank of India and would be released upon payment of 10 lakh rupees as processing charges. The fraudsters provided assurances that the promised funds would be credited to the victims' accounts within two months.
Once the initial payment was secured, victims were escorted to New Delhi where they were introduced to individuals impersonating officials from the RBI's foreign exchange department. The accused utilized fake RBI identification cards, conducted fabricated official interviews, collected victims' fingerprints, and issued forged documents including credit advices and dispatch orders to establish credibility and legitimacy. Subsequently, the gang extorted additional substantial sums from victims under various false pretexts.
Arrests and Seizures Made in Coordinated Operation
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sonu Kumar Dubey and Aashish Kumar from Bihar, Gopal Sekar from Bihar, George Thomas from Telangana, Gulshan Darad from Jharkhand, and Srinivasan from Karnataka. The arrests were executed on February 9 and 10 following meticulous investigation and surveillance.
During the operation, law enforcement authorities seized significant evidence including at least eight mobile phones with associated SIM cards and two laptops containing potentially crucial digital evidence. All six accused individuals have been remanded to judicial custody as the investigation continues to unfold.
Widespread Impact Across Multiple States
Preliminary investigation findings have revealed that the criminal gang successfully defrauded 23 individuals across multiple Indian states, demonstrating the interstate reach and sophisticated nature of their operations. The case highlights the growing sophistication of financial fraud schemes targeting unsuspecting citizens and the importance of coordinated law enforcement responses to such organized criminal activities.
The Tamil Nadu Crime Branch CID continues its investigation to identify any additional accomplices, recover stolen funds, and build a comprehensive case against the accused individuals to ensure appropriate legal consequences for their alleged criminal activities.
