Five held for selling fake gemstones

The gang members used to target gold traders from the district and also those from Kerala and Karnataka by luring them with "precious gemstones" at cheaper rates, Police Commissioner J Purnachandra Rao told reporters today.

They were nabbed from their underground workshop on Kirlamopudi Layout yesterday and 700 fake gems in 10 colours estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh, a gemstone cutter and polisher, a machine and five cellphones were seized from them.