Mysuru Goldsmith Apprehended in International Fraud Case Involving Bank Gold
In a significant development from Mysuru, a goldsmith accused of systematically pilfering gold from bank-pledged items has been arrested after an international manhunt. The arrest marks the culmination of a complex investigation triggered by customer complaints about missing gold from their pledged valuables.
International Manhunt Leads to Airport Arrest
Vijayanagar Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravikumar detailed the operation that led to the apprehension. Following formal complaints filed by bank authorities against goldsmith Ashwin Kumar, city police escalated the matter by alerting the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) after discovering the suspect had fled to Malaysia.
The breakthrough came when Ashwin Kumar recently arrived at Bengaluru International Airport, where he was immediately detained by airport authorities. The Vijayanagar police were promptly notified of his detention, leading to his formal arrest. He is currently in judicial custody as legal proceedings advance.
Five-Year Scheme of Systematic Gold Theft
Police investigation reveals that Ashwin Kumar operated as a recognized gold evaluator who assisted the bank in safeguarding gold pledged by customers. Exploiting this position of trust, he allegedly engaged in a meticulous scheme of theft during the safekeeping process.
According to the official complaint filed by bank authorities, Ashwin Kumar would surreptitiously remove small quantities of gold—typically 0.5 grams to 1 gram—from pledged gold items without the knowledge of bank officials. This systematic pilfering allegedly continued for approximately five years, resulting in the cumulative theft of nearly 250 grams of gold.
Complaint and Investigation Timeline
The fraudulent activity came to light after a woman customer raised allegations that bank employees had removed portions of her pledged gold. This prompted bank authorities to conduct an internal investigation, which ultimately identified Ashwin Kumar as the perpetrator.
Following their investigation, bank officials filed a formal complaint with Vijayanagar police, leading to the registration of a cheating case against the goldsmith. The police have confirmed that their investigation is actively underway to determine the full extent of the fraud and identify any potential accomplices.
This case highlights critical vulnerabilities in the safeguarding of pledged assets within financial institutions and underscores the importance of rigorous oversight mechanisms for third-party service providers involved in asset valuation and storage.
