PONDA: Datta Shirodkar (40), one of the key accused, who was appointed gold valuator of Quepem Urban Co-operative Society, Shiroda Branch, was arrested in connection with the fake gold case.
“Shirodkar, who was absconding over the last one year after the fake gold case of Rs 4 crore came to light, surrendered before JMFC Ponda on Monday. Ponda police later arrested him under Section 420 and Section 120 (B) and he was later remanded to three days custody by the JMFC Ponda,” informed Ponda PI C L Patil.
According to PI Patil, Paresh Kunclolekar, executive director of Quepem Society, had lodged a complaint against 31 persons, including two suspended bank managers, on February 14, 2014, for allegedly pledging fake and impure gold to obtain loan amounting to about Rs 4 crore through its Shiroda branch. Two bank managers and gold valuator Datta Shirodkar were accused of involvement in the case.
PI Patil further said the police were on the look out of the bank valuator, on whose certificate the bank had given loan against gold to 29 loanees. Police who was on the lookout for Shirodkar had raided his house on February 14. However, he managed to escape.
His relative, Prashant Shirodkar, also an accused in the case, was arrested last year. Prashant used to allegedly bring people interested in obtaining loans to the valuator Shirodkar, who would certify low-grade gold by taking advantage of his appointment as gold valuator by the bank, thereby committing breach of trust.
Depending on his certification that the fake gold was original, the bank sanctioned loans to several people. So far, about 15 loan defaulters have been arrested and about Rs 7 lakh has been deposited by some loanees, while some are yet to be arrested, informed Patil.
It may be recalled that the incident came to light when the gold pledged was put for auction, after 29 parties failed to clear the loan amount. When the packets containing the gold were opened in the presence of the society’s special auditor, the 22 bidders refused to bid on the ground that the gold was of low purity. Later, the society suspended bank manager Sureka Gawde. Two years ago, the society had suspended one staff for violating norms.
