Mumbai : The Mumbai Crime Branch has busted a gang that tricked elderly citizens into handing over their gold by offering fake bundles of cash in return. The Unit VI team arrested the key accused from Dwarka Pada, Kalyan, identified as the mastermind behind the elaborate con.
According to officials, the gang used a deceptive “gold-for-cash” scheme — convincing senior citizens that they had found large amounts of money wrapped in cloth and offering to exchange it for gold jewellery. Once the victims handed over their gold, the fraudsters vanished, leaving behind bundles filled with worthless paper.
The accused and his team have been linked to several cases registered in Chembur, Pant Nagar, Kanjurmarg, and Kalwa. Investigators revealed that the group had been operating since 2018, with similar scams reported in Bhiwandi, Kolsewadi, and Badlapur.
Senior Inspector Bharat Ghone of Crime Branch Unit VI said the accused belonged to a gang known for targeting elderly people through emotional manipulation and deceit. The police also confirmed that members of the so-called “Bawri gang” are involved in similar interstate crimes.
Further investigation is underway to trace other members of the network and identify additional victims of the scam.
