A high-profile fraud ring has been brought to book as Jammu Police lodges a chargesheet implicating six people, one a police sub-inspector, in defrauding a Hyderabad businessman of Rs 3 crore with counterfeit Kashmir Blue Sapphires.
The scheme’s architect, Mohammad Taj Khan, ingeniously portrayed himself as the ‘King of Jammu’s’ proxy, directing his associates to hawk the fake gems. This audacious ploy capitalized on the allure of rare sapphires from the Kashmir region.
The plot unraveled in late December 2024 following the victim’s police report. A dedicated team, spearheaded by Dr. Satish Bhardwaj and Ajay Sharma, unearthed vital evidence during house searches, including imitation stones and sham certificates.
Police ingenuity shone through as they recovered and restituted Rs 62 lakh to the complainant. Moreover, tainted properties bought with scam money are now under judicial seizure via a court petition.
Full details of the suspects—Muhammad Riyaz (Rajouri), Muhammad Taj Khan (Poonch), Shaukat Hussain (Rajouri), Muhammad Shafi (Doda), Kulwinder Singh (Samba), and Sub-Inspector Muhammad Maqbool Dugga (Srinagar)—have been documented in the chargesheet.
Victim appreciation for the investigation’s efficiency underscores a victim-centric approach. This episode warns of the dangers lurking in gem trade deceptions and affirms police determination to protect economic integrity.