US Woman Duped: Buys fake Jewelry worth Rs 300 for 6 Crore in Jaipur

Jaipur Police are searching for a jeweler and his son accused of swindling a US citizen out of 6 crore over the past two years.

Rajendra Soni and his son Gaurav Soni are alleged to have sold fake jewelry to Cherish Nortje, a US resident. According to police officials, the duo used cunning tactics. They reportedly polished silver chains to resemble gold and passed off inexpensive moissanite stones as expensive diamonds. To further their deception, they even provided Nortje with fake certificates of authenticity.

The elaborate scheme unraveled in April 2024 when Nortje, who had been buying jewelry from the Sonis since 2022, participated in an exhibition in the US. There, her jewelry was exposed as counterfeit. Nortje promptly returned to Jaipur in May to confront the Sonis, resulting in a heated argument.

Both parties ended up at the Manak Chowk police station in an attempt to resolve the issue. Nortje demanded the replacement of the fake jewelry and raised concerns about discrepancies in the carat weight and quantity of other items she had purchased. The Sonis vehemently denied the accusations and claimed Nortje had stolen the jewelry from their shop. However, police CCTV footage contradicted their story, showing Nortje leaving with only the jewelry she brought in.

Despite a second attempt to mediate at the police station after Nortje filed an FIR, the Sonis vanished. Police have registered a case against Rajendra and Gaurav Soni under Section 420 (fraud) of the Indian Penal Code.

A lab test conducted in Sitapura confirmed the jewelry’s fakeness. Police have arrested Nand Kishore, who admitted to creating the fraudulent certificates at the Sonis’ behest. “Kishore was apprehended on May 19th for creating fake certificates in exchange for money,” said Manak Chowk Station House Officer Gurbhupendra Singh. “Lookout notices have been issued for Rajendra and Gaurav Soni. The investigation is ongoing.”