Lucknow: A woman in Lucknow’s Ashiyana area has alleged that she was cheated of around 267 grams of gold jewellery on the pretext of arranging a gold loan at a low interest rate. According to the complaint, acquaintances assured her that they could arrange a ₹5 lakh gold loan at a low interest rate and took her to a finance company branch, where her jewellery was pledged. The woman alleged that the pledge receipt was issued in the name of one of the accused instead of her own. The accused allegedly later redeemed and took away the jewellery. She further alleged that when she protested, she was threatened with a pistol and pressured to sign blank papers. Police have registered a case based on her complaint and begun an investigation.
Meeting the accused when she needed a loan
According to Dr Meenakshi Tripathi, a resident of the Jankipuram area, she needed around ₹5 lakh in 2019 for work related to event management. During this period, an acquaintance, Nihil Mohan Srivastava, introduced her to Surendra Pal Singh alias Monu, Gurpreet Singh Zorawar and Gaganpreet Singh.
According to her complaint, the accused assured her that they could arrange a gold loan at a low interest rate. The woman alleged that the accused took her to the Ashiyana branch of Muthoot Finance and helped complete the process of pledging her gold jewellery.
In March 2019, around 267 grams of gold jewellery was allegedly pledged for a loan of ₹5 lakh. However, the complaint alleges that the pledge receipt was issued in the name of Gurpreet Singh instead of the woman.
Jewellery allegedly redeemed before she could collect it
According to the complainant, she later went to the finance company to recover her jewellery but was informed that the accused had already redeemed and taken it away. She allegedly did not know that the jewellery had been recorded under another person’s name and that it had been released before she arrived.
The woman alleged that she confronted the accused and demanded the return of her jewellery, after which the dispute escalated. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly visited her residence on October 16, 2020, displayed a pistol and threatened to kill her.
She also alleged that the accused pressured her into signing papers. Police are now examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged threats and the documents that were signed.
Finance company’s role also under scrutiny
A key aspect of the investigation will be to determine how the woman’s jewellery was pledged in another person’s name and under what procedure it was subsequently released. Police are expected to examine the loan records, pledge documents, receipts, payment details and other records maintained by the finance company.
Investigators will also examine the identity and ownership verification conducted when the jewellery was pledged. The records could help establish who was present during the transaction, whose documents were used and who authorised the subsequent release of the pledged jewellery.
If the allegations are substantiated during the investigation, the case could involve more than a dispute over the jewellery and may include allegations relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy, intimidation and misuse of documents.
Case registered years after alleged incident
The case relates to events that allegedly began in 2019, while the police complaint and registration of the case took place later. The complainant approached the police with details of the alleged transactions and sought action against the named accused.
Police have registered the case and initiated legal proceedings. Investigators are now examining records connected with the accused, documents maintained by the finance company and details surrounding the release of the jewellery.
The investigation will also establish the respective roles of the people named in the complaint and whether they acted together in arranging the alleged loan transaction.
Investigation to establish what happened to the jewellery
The allegations made in the complaint are yet to be established through investigation. One of the key tasks before police is to trace the 267 grams of gold jewellery and determine who redeemed it, when it was released and on the basis of which documents.
Investigators will also examine the allegations of threats with a firearm and coercion to sign papers. Statements of the complainant and other relevant persons, along with the finance company’s records, are expected to form part of the investigation.
Police have started legal action after registering the case. Further action against the accused will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation, including financial records, transaction documents and statements of the persons involved.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
