Over 70 complaints against pvt firm owner for duping people of gold in Mysuru

MYSURU: While a case of cheating thousands of crores by luring people with promises of high interest is making waves in Belagavi, a case in Mysuru where a man cheated hundreds of people in the name of gold has come to light.

Soundarraj alias Chinnathambi of STJ Gold has been accused of cheating hundreds of people. The Central Crime Branch police in Mysuru have issued a press release asking people to file complaints against him. The multi-crore scam by Belagavi’s Shivananda Neelannavar could pale before Chinnathambi’s gold melting fraud.

Chinnathambi would take gold as pawn promising a higher price and cheat people. He would melt the gold in front of customers in seconds and after melting, he would cheat them saying it is not pure gold. Finally, he would threaten them through bodyguards and settle by giving less money.

Chinnathambi, who had opened more than five gold pawn shops under various names in Mysuru, cheated people from several districts of the state. From 2017 till now, he has cheated more than half a kg of gold every day. If the cheated people filed complaints, Chinnathambi would settle by paying money.

After enraged people protested in front of the Mysuru City Police Commissioner’s office on Wednesday, police registered an FIR, arrested Chinnathambi, and sent him to jail. Police, who had remained quiet after arresting Chinnathambi, issued a press release against him as soon as the scam in Belagavi surfaced. They have requested that those who have been cheated after pledging gold file complaints with the CCB unit along with documents.

Right after the CCB issued the press release, a series of complaints were filed against STJ Gold owner Soundarraj. Police took everyone’s complaints under UAPA. So far, more than 70 people have filed complaints. People have filed complaints about losing gold, money fraud, and being cheated during gold melting.

There is suspicion of cheating worth crores of rupees so far. As the scope of the case expands, there is a high possibility that this case will also be transferred to the CBI.