Recently, devotees offered around 20 tonnes of silver at the Vaishno Devi temple. However, testing revealed only 5 to 6 percent silver was genuine. The remaining material turned out fake after examination. Authorities started investigating the matter after this discovery.
Therefore, questions emerged about legal action against fake gold and silver offerings. Indian laws have provisions for such fraudulent activities.
When Does Fake Gold Or Silver Become An Offence?
Offering fake gold or silver at religious places is not just negligence. It can become a direct violation of law. If someone intentionally mixes metals and presents them as genuine offerings, authorities can consider it fraud. Such actions can involve criminal conspiracy against temple trusts.
Moreover, police can register cases against accused individuals. Punishment may include imprisonment and heavy penalties.
Punishment Provisions Under BNS
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cheating someone or selling fake items as genuine falls under Section 318. Additionally, knowingly misleading temple authorities about donated property can lead to fraud and misappropriation cases.
If an organised group runs such activities, legal action can also target those involved.
What Happens If A Devotee Makes An Unintentional Mistake?
Sometimes devotees unknowingly purchase impure gold or silver from dishonest sellers. They may later donate those items at temples. In such situations, the law mainly considers the person’s intention. Investigation agencies check whether the devotee planned deception. If the devotee has honest intentions, action can shift towards the seller. The jeweller who sold impure material may face consequences.
How Temples Check Donation Purity
Major religious places like Mahakal, Tirupati, Ram Mandir and Vaishno Devi use special committees. These committees include government officials and trusted jewellers. They evaluate the value and purity of donated ornaments. Furthermore, CCTV cameras monitor donations inside temple premises. Temples issue receipts only after checking metal purity.
This process helps prevent manipulation and misuse of offerings.
How Fraudsters Create Fake Gold And Silver
Fraudsters commonly use brass, copper and zinc to create fake gold. Brass-based fake gold often contains 70 to 80 percent copper. The remaining mixture usually contains 20 to 30 percent zinc. Aluminium also helps maintain the shine. Additionally, advanced fraud methods use tungsten inside metals. Fraudsters cover tungsten with a gold layer to copy gold weight. Meanwhile, German silver creates major confusion in silver fraud. It does not contain even one percent genuine silver.
German silver mainly contains 60 percent copper, 20 percent zinc and 20 percent nickel. Fraudsters also use cadmium, iron and tin.
These cheap metals create weight and shine. Silver plating then helps deceive ordinary buyers.
