KGSMA seek BIS probe into counterfeit hallmarked gold jewellery in Kerala

The Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (KGSMA) has called upon the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to conduct a probe into the manufacture and sale of counterfeit gold jewellery adorned with fraudulent HUID hallmark stamps in the state. The association appealed for BIS to uncover the origin of the counterfeit ornaments and those responsible for misusing genuine HUID numbers, and to take legal action against all parties involved in the illicit activities.

KGSMA emphasized the necessity of enhancing surveillance and verification processes to maintain the integrity of the BIS hallmarking system, citing the recent discovery of three counterfeit gold bangles bearing fraudulent HUID hallmark stamps at Thamarassery in Kozhikode. These ornaments had been accepted as pledged gold by a financial institution and were later identified as counterfeit during verification.

General Secretary of KGSMA, S Abdul Nazar, revealed that the alphanumeric HUID numbers corresponded to genuine hallmarked jewellery processed through a BIS-recognized hallmarking centre. The incident suggests the presence of an organized criminal network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit gold jewellery featuring forged BIS HUID hallmark stamps.

KGSMA warned that such fraudulent practices not only deceive consumers and financial institutions but also damage the reputation of genuine jewellers and severely undermine the credibility of the BIS Hallmarking Programme.