A German national recently approached the city police with a complaint that he had been palmed off with a piece of bronze in name of an antique statue for Rs. 40,000 by a shopkeeper on Bangalore–Nilgiri Road in the city.
Though the police swung into action immediately and ensured that the foreigner received a refund, there is concern among the authorities as well as tourism industry stakeholders over the growing instances of tourists getting conned. Chairman of Mysore Dasara’s Tourism Subcommittee Sudhakar Shetty feared that the menace would only increase in the Dasara season if corrective steps were not taken.
Tourists are keen on taking home the famed sandalwood items and silk saris of Mysore.
“But, many of them become victims of tricksters who sell them fakes. These conmen are a blot on the reputation of Mysore,” he said. Unfortunately, many victims realise that they have been cheated only after they leave the city leaving little hope for redressal.
City Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem said complaints would immediately be addressed.
Citing the German national’s case, Mr. Saleem said the shopkeeper had passed off the piece of bronze stating that it was an antique statue. “When we checked, we found that the antique item was no more than a piece of bronze. We got the complainant a refund,” he said.
(The Hindu)
