Woman cheats Bengaluru jeweller of Rs 8.42-crore gold after posing as ex-MP D K Suresh’s sister

According to the FIR, Gowda and her husband, residents of RR Nagar, befriended Vanitha. Gowda claimed to be Suresh’s younger sister and a prominent businesswoman with political connections. She initially borrowed jewellery from Vanitha’s shop and promptly repaid them, earning her trust.

Between October 12, 2023, and January 1, 2024, the duo allegedly borrowed 14.66 kg of gold worth Rs 8.42 crore, promising to return it. However, neither the gold nor its monetary value was repaid.

According to Vanitha, Harish once arranged a call with someone claiming to be D K Suresh, who requested more time to return the gold. She later discovered the caller was Dharmendra impersonating the former MP, who is also the brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

When Vanitha demanded her gold back, she was met with threats and abuse. Dharmendra allegedly issued death threats, further intimidating her.

The police have registered the case under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Investigations are underway to determine the extent of the conspiracy and recover the stolen gold.

Last week, the police arrested a woman named Shwetha Gowda, who had claimed to be an associate of former MLA Varthur Prakash and defrauded gold jewellery worth Rs 2.73 crore. The Commercial Street police have arrested her and are likely to record a statement from Varthur Prakash.

Speaking to the media, Varthur Prakash said he had met Shwetha Gowda a few months ago and that she had taken a photo with him. “But I did not have any kind of contact with her. I came to know only through the police that she used my name to cheat. Like many people who meet us every day, she met me at the office,” he added.