Fake Gold Deal Ends in Violence: Swift Police Action Leads to Arrests and Recovery

Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh): In a shocking incident, a man from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, was robbed while attempting to purchase one kilogram of gold at a low price. The deal turned out to be a trap, leading to a violent robbery. However, thanks to the swift and effective action of the Harsud Police, the case was cracked within 24 hours. Two main accused were arrested and nearly ₹14 lakh worth of stolen goods were recovered.

Incident Details:

The complainant, Mayank Khute, 32, a resident of Civil Lines, Raipur, lodged a report at Harsud police station stating that Yuvraj alias Sevkaram, a resident of Bheelkhedi village, Piplaud police station, Khandwa district, had promised to sell him one kilogram of gold at a cheap rate.

On August 31, Mayank, along with his friends, arrived at a location on Harda Road near Tornia Jhumarkhali, carrying ₹17.5 lakh in cash for the deal. Following instructions from Yuvraj, Mayank and his companions moved off the main road towards the Tornia solar plant area where the accused showed them what appeared to be gold coins.

At that point, Yuvraj and his accomplices — Shabnam Pardi and two others — suddenly attacked them. They snatched Mayank's black bag containing ₹17.5 lakh cash, a Realme XT mobile phone, ATM cards, ID cards, and other items. When Mayank and his friends tried to resist, they were physically assaulted.

Mayank’s friend Ajay was hit on the leg with a stick by Shabnam, causing injury. The other accomplices threatened them with weapons including a sickle and an axe, forcing the victims to flee for their lives. The accused then fled with the stolen bag.

Immediate Police Action:

Based on Mayank’s report, an FIR (Crime Number 327/25) was registered under sections 309(4), 309(6), 351(3), and 3(5) of the BNS. The matter was taken up for immediate investigation.

Khandwa Superintendent of Police Mr. Manoj Kumar Rai acted swiftly and directed Harsud Station In-Charge Inspector Rajkumar Rathore, Cyber Cell In-Charge Inspector Praveen Arya, and their team to trace the accused and recover the stolen property.

Under the guidance of Additional SP (Rural) Rajesh Raghuvanshi and SDOP Harsud Lokendra Singh Thakur, the police team apprehended the two main accused within 24 hours:

1. Yuvraj alias Sevkaram, 40 years old,

2. Shabnam Pardi, 28 years old

Recovery:

From the possession of the accused, police recovered: ₹13,79,000 cash, 3 mobile phones, The stolen bag.

In total, stolen property worth approximately ₹14 lakh has been seized. The arrested individuals were presented before the Harsud court on September 2, 2025. Police remand was obtained for further interrogation and to locate the remaining two absconding accused and recover the remaining loot.

Commendable Police Work:

The following officers and personnel played key roles in solving the case:

Inspector Rajkumar Rathore (Harsud Police Station In-Charge), Inspector Praveen Arya (Cyber Cell In-Charge), SI Ramesh More, Head Constables Vikram Verma, Rajendra Thakur, Vikas Mandloi (Padmanagar PS)Constables Hariom Meena, Rohit Sahu, Bhagwan Maskole, Anand Singh, Driver Constable Jitesh Sayde

Their alertness, coordination, and prompt action ensured the quick resolution of a potentially complicated case.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale: falling for the lure of “cheap gold” can lead not only to financial loss but also to serious physical danger. The complainant, Mayank, learned this the hard way. Meanwhile, the swift and efficient action by the Khandwa police has restored public confidence and shown how organized crime can be tackled effectively with timely action.