Hubballi, Nov 24: A Kerala‑based jewellery trader was robbed of gold and cash worth more than ₹3 crore by five men who posed as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Hubballi.
The gang targeted the trader near Chennamma Circle on Neeligin Road, in what police are calling a planned impersonation and robbery case.
According to the complaint, the victim, identified as Sudeen from Kerala, was carrying 2.942 kg of gold ornaments and about ₹2 lakh in cash when the incident took place on November 20.
The suspects stopped him, claimed they were from the ED, and said they needed to question him over alleged “illegal gold trading”.
Police reports say Sudeen regularly travels to different cities to collect orders from jewellery shops, and had reached Belagavi from Mangaluru on November 15 with a large consignment.
The consignment included chains, bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, mangalsutras, lockets and bangles meant for clients in Belagavi, Dharwad and Hubballi.
Over the next few days, he visited various jewellery stores in these cities and then checked into a hotel near the old bus stand in Hubballi.
On November 20, after completing work in Dharwad and returning towards his hotel, the group confronted him on Neeligin Road.
Speaking in Hindi, the five men allegedly flashed fake ED identity cards and told him and his assistant, Vivek, that they were under suspicion.
They are said to have forced both men into their vehicle, taken away their mobile phones and “seized” the bags carrying the gold and cash.
After driving some distance, the accused reportedly dropped Vivek near Kittur and later left Sudeen at M K Hubballi, before fleeing with the jewellery and money.
By the time the victims could reach police and report the crime, the gang had already escaped from the spot.
A case has been registered at the Sub‑Urban police station and transferred to the city’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) for further investigation.
Hubballi–Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar has said the crime appears to be a clear case of impersonation and may involve people known to the trader or familiar with his routine.
Police teams are now scanning CCTV footage from Chennamma Circle, Neeligin Road and nearby routes, and are also checking vehicle movement data to track the suspects.
Investigators are verifying call records, travel details and business contacts of the victim to find any possible links to the gang.
Officers have warned traders and the public to be cautious of anyone claiming to be from agencies like the ED, CBI or Income Tax, and to always demand proper verification and cross‑check through official phone numbers.
Authorities have also urged jewellery merchants and cash‑intensive businesses in Hubballi–Dharwad to inform local police stations when moving high‑value consignments.