Cheats in Visakhapatnam use rice ‘pulling coin’ to dupe people

Visakhapatnam: Making a quick buck continues to lure gullible people in Vizag city and other parts of the region resulting in fraudsters, including inter-state gangs duping the people by offering to sell “rice puller” or gold pot with magical powers, to attract rice grains that could fetch crores of rupees in the international markets and keeping such coins at home which would ensure prosperity.

Despite such gangs operating in the city, cops are unable to nab the masterminds of such gangs. Recently cops of I-Town led by Inspector Syed Mohammed Eliyas arrested four persons — P. Satish Kumar, B. Ramesh Naidu, Sheik Md. Sharif and G. Srinu in one such rice pulling coin case and recovered Rs 12 lakh, gold ornaments worth Rs 4.2 lakh and a car. All four residents of Vizag had duped gullible persons steeped in superstitious beliefs by leading them to believe that the coins are ancient coins and have unique qualities such as attracting rice like a magnet attracts iron. The gang sold a coin to M. Rama Reddy of Anaparthi area of East Godavari district for a whopping of Rs 50 lakh.

The fraud came to light when Rama Reddy realised he was duped and approached Vizag cops. Ironically one of the accused, Satish Kumar, was himself a victim of gang and later decided to cheat others using the same modus operandi.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) D.N. Mahesh said educated greedy Vizagites were also victims of magic metal fraud in the city, but most victims hesitate to lodge police complaints. It is suspected that greedy people lose anything between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in each case, he added.

A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said these gangs have been active in Vizag city and surrounding areas, but cops have failed to nab the masterminds.