An elderly woman was allegedly cheated by an unidentified man who offered to clean her gold jewellery and dissolved her chain using a chemical substance.

According to a complaint filed by 90-year-old Rukmini Shettigar of Panilaje in Kashipatna village, the incident occurred on February 10 at around 11.15 am when she was alone at home.

The accused reportedly approached her claiming he would clean her gold ornaments. Trusting him, she handed over her two-and-a-half sovereign gold chain with a Lakshmi pendant from her locker.

The man pretended to clean the chain using water and a brush in the courtyard. He then wrapped it in paper and asked her to dry it under the fan before leaving the spot.

When she later opened the paper, she found a powder resembling turmeric, small fragments of the gold chain, and the Lakshmi pendant discoloured to a copper-like shade.

A case has been registered at Venoor police station. The accused’s image has been captured on CCTV footage, and police have launched a search operation.