Imphal, May 25 (UNI) Three persons have been arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in a fake gold business in Manipur, police said on Sunday.

The three persons arrested from the Hangoon area under the Mayang Imphal police station in Kakching District are Shivaji Gaikwad of Belavade, Sangli, Maharashtra, Jalindar Shamrao Jadhav of Mohi, Khanapur Taluka, Sangli, Maharashtra and Ramdas Tanaji Khandare Isawar Dutta Lane, Howrah, West Bengal.

They have been held for their alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy to counterfeit impure gold and fraudulently represent it as pure gold with trademarks using specialized equipment to manufacture counterfeit gold bars of varying weights to deceive the general public.

Police said a hydraulic machine, a melting machine, 94 graphite crucibles of different sizes, carbon rods, chemicals and other materials were recovered from them. UNI NS SSP