Court sends Councilor Mahesh Sharma to 6-day police custody in extortion case
A fraud racket involving fake gold pledged for loans at multiple jewellery shops has been busted with the arrest of four individuals from Howrah and Hooghly. The accused allegedly visited gold shops, pledged ornaments and took cash loans, only for the jewellery to later be found fake during testing. By the time the fraud surfaced, the gang had already fled with the money.
The breakthrough came after Jagatballavpur Police Station in Howrah reviewed CCTV footage from one of the affected shops and arrested three suspects. During interrogation, leads pointed to another accomplice, who was subsequently arrested by Jangipara Police Station in Hooghly district.
Police identified the accused as Sheikh Muntaz, Sheikh Ashdul, Sheikh Kafi and Sheikh Nasiruddin, all residents of Jangipara in Hooghly. A country-made pistol was recovered from Nasiruddin. Further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the fraud and whether more shops were targeted.