Mumbai: The BKC Police have registered a case against a diamond merchant who operated an office at Bharat Diamond Bourse for allegedly defrauding a French woman of ₹98 lakh by supplying a lab-grown diamond instead of a natural diamond. The complainant has alleged that the stone sent to her was produced using the Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) method. Police have registered an FIR based on her written complaint and are examining the transaction, purchase records and diamond-testing documents. No arrest has been reported so far.
The complainant, Malika Afisi, is based in France. According to the complaint, she met the diamond merchant during a visit to India in 2023 and subsequently placed an order for a diamond. She allegedly made the required payment and was assured that the ordered diamond would be supplied.
Diamond delivered after 14 months
According to the complaint, the delivery was significantly delayed and Afisi had to repeatedly follow up with the merchant regarding the status of her order. She allegedly received the diamond nearly 14 months after placing the order.
The parcel was delivered to her on February 19, 2025. After receiving the stone, however, Afisi allegedly became suspicious about whether it was the type of diamond she had originally ordered.
She subsequently decided to have the stone independently examined to establish its nature and authenticity. The diamond was submitted to the Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie, a gemological and forensic testing laboratory in France, for examination.
Test allegedly identifies CVD-grown diamond
The complainant has alleged that the laboratory examination established that the stone was not a natural diamond but a lab-grown diamond created using the CVD technique. Following the examination, she approached the police and submitted a complaint alleging that she had been deceived in the transaction.
Based on the written complaint and documents submitted by the woman, the BKC Police recently registered an FIR against the merchant. Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the order and delivery.
A key part of the investigation will be to establish what type of diamond was agreed upon at the time of purchase, what specifications were communicated to the complainant and whether the stone supplied to her matched those specifications.
Purchase records under scrutiny
Police are expected to examine the original purchase order, payment records, correspondence between the complainant and the merchant, delivery documents and the laboratory report concerning the diamond.
Investigators may also question the merchant and other individuals associated with the transaction. The probe will seek to determine whether the merchant was aware of the nature of the diamond supplied and whether the complainant had specifically been promised a natural diamond.
Police will also examine the financial trail associated with the ₹98 lakh transaction and establish how the payment was made and recorded in the merchant’s business records.
The laboratory examination is expected to be an important part of the investigation, although police will also have to establish the terms of the original transaction and the representations allegedly made to the complainant before determining the precise nature of the alleged fraud.
No arrest so far
The FIR was registered after the police received the woman’s written complaint. Officials have not reported any arrest in the case so far. The investigation is continuing, with police examining the available documents and evidence.
The case also highlights the importance of independent certification when purchasing high-value diamonds. Natural diamonds and laboratory-grown diamonds can share many physical and chemical characteristics, but their origins are different. Natural diamonds are formed through geological processes, while CVD diamonds are produced in controlled laboratory conditions.
For high-value purchases, independent gemological certification, clear product specifications and documentation of the transaction can help establish the nature and quality of the stone being purchased.
The BKC Police are currently examining the allegations made by the complainant. Further action will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation, including transaction records, communications, purchase documents and the laboratory examination report.
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.
