India, Aug. 31 -- Three men allegedly posing as Mahanagar Gas officials used a fake gas-meter reading request to gain access to the phones and bank accounts of two Kandivali residents, siphoning Rs.6.25 lakh that police say was later used to repay the accused's own gold loan and recover pledged jewellery. Kandivali police traced the money trail to Gujarat and arrested the trio.

The accused have been identified as Urvishkumar Rajeshbhai Patel, Janikumar Pradipbhai Patel and Ankitkumar Sanjaybhai Patel. They were arrested in Olpad village in Surat district, Gujarat, after police traced the financial transactions linked to the alleged fraud.

In one of the cases, complainant Bakul Kantilal Desai was contacted by unidentified persons who tol...