Brothers arrested in West Bengal after 15 years in Delhi jewellery fraud case

Two brothers wanted in a 2011 Delhi jewellery fraud case involving the alleged misappropriation of 1,430 grammes of gold and diamonds were arrested from West Bengal after nearly 15 years, police said on Sunday.

The accused, Pintu Koley, 47, and Mintu Koley, 46, were arrested from Hooghly during the intervening night of October 1 and 2, police said.

The brothers, who are trained jewellery makers and designers, were booked in an FIR registered at Kotwali police station in 2011.

According to police, the two had acquired expertise in jewellery designing while working with several jewellers in Delhi. They allegedly took advantage of the trust placed in them and misappropriated gold and diamonds handed over to them for making jewellery.

After allegedly fleeing Delhi, the brothers settled in West Bengal and continued working as jewellery makers. They were declared proclaimed offenders in the case, following which a reward of Rs 10,000 each was announced in 2012, police said.

A Crime Branch team traced them after developing specific information about their presence in Hooghly. Police said the brothers were found working as jewellery makers and taking orders from jewellers in Kolkata and Hooghly while keeping a low profile.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly told investigators that they wanted to start their own jewellery designing business but did not have sufficient funds. They allegedly planned to use the valuables entrusted to them to finance the proposed venture, a senior police officer said.

Pintu had come to Delhi in 2009 and worked there for about two years, while Mintu also moved to the city with him. The brothers later continued their work in West Bengal.

Further investigation is underway, police said.