Four victims of multi-crore gold scam attacked after being invited for talks

Mysuru: Four persons, including a woman, who had pledged their gold ornaments with one of the gold loan companies run by Chinnathambi alias Soundar Raj and allegedly lost them in the multi-crore gold scam, were allegedly assaulted by Chinnathambi’s associates after they were called for an amicable settlement. The incident took place at Srirampura yesterday.

Those allegedly assaulted were Lokesh of Electronics City and Santosh of Laggere, both in Bengaluru, Mahesh of Hassan and Shobha of Salundi in Mysuru taluk. Lokesh and Santosh were reportedly assaulted by four men and a woman.

Chinnathambi is accused of cheating thousands of customers by luring them with advertisements offering gold loans at low interest rates and thus cheating them to the tune of crores of rupees after getting their gold ornaments pledged with him. The City Crime Branch (CCB) is investigating multiple FIRs lodged in the scam.

It may be recalled that on Sept. 27, a group of women, their family members and others who had allegedly lost their gold ornaments in the multi-crore gold fraud case met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru and appealed to him to expedite the investigation and help them recover their ornaments.

The victims told the CM that they had pledged their gold ornaments after being lured by advertisements offering gold loans at low interest rates. They alleged that Chinnathambi later cheated them of their gold.

The women also alleged that the Police investigation had so far yielded no results and claimed that the case was not being investigated properly. They alleged that Chinnathambi and his associates, including some political leaders, wielded influence over the Police.

Soon after they met with the Chief Minister, Chinnathambi’s associates reportedly called the victims to Srirampura for a settlement. When they reached the place, they were allegedly abused and assaulted with stones and a car jack rod, sustaining injuries to their head, hands, legs, stomach and forehead. The assailants also allegedly threatened the victims with dire consequences and reportedly snatched their gold chains and mobile phones.

The injured were treated at a hospital and later lodged a complaint with Kuvempunagar Police.

However, prime accused Chinnathambi is out on bail.