SRINAGAR: Jammu Police have busted a multi-crore fake gemstone racket, recovering Rs 62 lakh and returning it to a Hyderabad businessman who was duped in a fraudulent deal involving counterfeit Kashmir Blue Sapphires.
The case was filed at Bahu Fort Police Station after Mir Firasath Ali Khan reported being cheated of Rs 3 crore by fraudsters posing as rare gemstone sellers. The accused attempted to sell fake sapphires worth Rs 25 crore.
A probe led by SDPO Bakshi Nagar Dr. Satish Bhardwaj, under SSP Jammu Joginder Singh and SP South Ajay Sharma, uncovered a wider network. Key accused include Mohammed Rayaz of Rajouri (now in Jammu) and Mohammed Taj Khan of Poonch (currently in Trikuta Nagar).
Searches led to the seizure of fake sapphire jewellery and Rs 62 lakh, which was returned to the victim following court approval. Part of the defrauded money had been used to purchase property, now facing attachment under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows seizure of criminal assets for victim restitution.
The complainant thanked police for their swift and effective action.
