Imposter jeweller dupes Rajkot trader of 17L

Rajkot: A 39-year-old silver trader from the city has filed a complaint at Thorala police station alleging fraud of over Rs 17 lakh by a man who allegedly impersonated a jeweller from Uttar Pradesh.According to the complaint, Deepak Mandali, who runs a silver business and deals with traders across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, was approached around four months ago by one Mukesh Jaiswal from Gorakhpur, claiming to be the owner of "Jaiswal Jewellers Shri Radhakrishna".The accused allegedly placed orders for silver jewellery worth Rs 17.3 lakh between Dec 2025 and Jan. In exchange, he sent a consignment of silver to Mandali. However, on testing, only 170 grams was found to be pure silver, raising suspicion of fraud.Mandali said that when he tried to contact Jaiswal after the discovery, the latter's phone was switched off. Subsequent inquiries in Gorakhpur revealed that while a jewellery firm by the same name exists and its GST number is genuine, its owner denied any association with the accused. The visiting card and mobile number provided were also found to be fake, police said.Further, two refineries — Shri Balaji Gold and Silver Refinery and MK Bullion Refinery — whose reports were cited by the accused, denied issuing any such certification. The complainant was also told that at least two traders in Agra had been cheated using a similar modus operandi.Police inquiries revealed that another trader, Pawan Rathod from Agra, had filed a complaint against the same accused at Kotwali police station in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh.Investigations also indicated that Uttar Pradesh police had arrested Jaiswal in March in connection with similar offences, and silver was reportedly seized from his possession.Police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.