Manhunt on for Bengal jeweller who fled with customers' gold

A manhunt has been launched for a jewellery maker, hailing from West Bengal after he allegedly fled with gold ornaments worth about Rs 2.2 crore, belonging to over 90 customers in suburban Chembur, police said today.
The accused Uttamkumar Mala alias Rajubhai Sonar (33) was booked yesterday for cheating and criminal breach of trust after complaints that he had decamped with about seven kg of gold valuables, Inspector Sachin Kadam at RCF police station said.
A West Bengal native, Uttam came to Mumbai around five years ago and had been staying with his wife, brother and son at a rented house in the Mahul village area of Chembur.

Victims told investigators that Uttam would trap customers by quoting lesser jewellery making charges.
As he gained the trust of customers in the area, many approached him with old ornaments and asked him to make new designs, the police said.
He also lured victims claiming that he would affix the hallmark logo on their jewellery and managed to collect seven kg of gold estimated to be around Rs 2.2 crore and cash worth Rs 45 lakh, the police said.

Many victims are from the Koli community and they expected to get their ornaments back tomorrow on Narali Purnima, the biggest festival of the community, police said.

However, victims found the accused's shop shut on Sunday and he was also unavailable on his mobile phone which was switched off, they said.
When nobody was found at his residence, victims realised that they were cheated and complained at the RCF police station which registered a case against Uttam and his family, they added.