Duo takes 12L loans using imitation gold; held

Chennai: Two men were arrested for attempting to cheat bank employees at an Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) branch in Kellys by seeking a refund of an appraisal fee paid for fake gold-plated jewellery that they earlier attempted to pledge for a loan. Police later found that the duo obtained loans worth 12 lakh from two other bank branches using imitation jewellery.Police identified the accused as Ramesh Soni, 54, a gold trader from Kondithope, and Tamilselvan, 48, from KP Park in Pulianthope.According to police, Ramesh Soni visited the Kellys branch on May 7 and attempted to pledge about 18g of gold-plated imitation jewellery to obtain a loan. Kumaran, 27, the branch jewellery appraiser, examined the ornaments and found that the metal was substandard.Police said the appraiser rejected the loan request and returned the jewellery after Ramesh Soni failed to produce Aadhaar or PAN details. However, the bank collected 500 as an appraisal fee as part of banking procedures.On Thursday, around 2.30pm, Ramesh Soni and Tamilselvan returned to the branch seeking a refund of the appraisal fee. Suspicious bank employees detained the duo and alerted appraisers from the IOB branches in Purasawalkam and Choolai to examine the jewellery. Police were also informed.Police found that the accused pledged fake gold-plated jewellery at other bank branches and secured loans.Ramasubramanian, 42, a jewellery appraiser at the IOB Purasawalkam branch, informed police that the accused obtained a loan of 7 lakh using imitation jewellery. Mahesh, 54, an appraiser at the IOB Choolai branch, stated that the duo similarly secured 5 lakh by pledging fake gold ornaments. The two were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.