The Pune police anti-extortion squad has arrested three individuals, including Prashant Kantilal Barmecha, a 61-year-old jewellery shop manager, for allegedly orchestrating a gold fraud scheme worth nearly ₹18 crore. The other arrested accomplices are Ramakant Mahadev Parale, 62, and Maheshwari Ramakant Parale, 22, both from Kedgaon in Ahilyanagar district. The fraud was discovered during an internal audit in March 2026, which revealed a significant shortage of gold and cash at a prominent jewellery shop on Laxmi Road. The accused misused their positions to systematically divert gold and valuables over the past year. Police have recovered 3 kg 552 grams of gold valued at ₹3.90 crore, a luxury car, a mobile phone, and ₹80,000 in cash, bringing the total value of recovered items to ₹5.24 crore. The accused have been remanded to police custody until April 25.