Chennai, India – In a shocking revelation that has stirred public outrage and raised serious concerns about consumer protection in the jewellery sector, popular retailer Lalitha Jewellery has come under fire for allegedly selling fake gold beneath stone-studded necklaces. Multiple customers have reported that after purchasing necklaces embedded with decorative stones, they discovered that the gold underneath the stones was either of poor purity or completely fake.
The Allegation
The issue came to light after a few vigilant customers decided to have their jewellery tested by independent gold appraisers. According to their claims, while the visible portions of the necklaces appeared to be genuine gold, the sections concealed beneath the stones reportedly failed standard purity tests. This suggests a possible deliberate attempt to reduce gold content in areas not immediately visible to buyers.
Social Media Outcry
The controversy quickly gained traction on social media with hashtags like #FakeGoldAlert, #LalithaJewelleryScam, and #ConsumerRights trending in Tamil Nadu. Disappointed customers have started sharing receipts, videos, and photos to substantiate their claims, demanding an apology, refund, or legal compensation.
One customer tweeted:
“I trusted Lalitha Jewellery for my wedding purchases. Now I find out the necklace has fake gold under the stones? Heartbreaking and unacceptable. #LalithaExposed”
Consumer Rights Experts React
Consumer rights activists and legal experts are urging affected individuals to file complaints with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and lodge FIRs under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, if proven true.
“If the claims are genuine, this is not just a breach of trust—it’s outright fraud,” said Advocate R. Menon, a consumer protection lawyer. “Such practices can be legally challenged and penalized heavily.”
Call for Transparency
This incident highlights a larger issue in the Indian jewellery market—lack of transparency in stone-studded ornaments, where hallmarking is often not applied to the entire product. Experts recommend:
- Always asking for hallmarked gold for the entire jewellery piece, not just the visible parts.
- Insisting on a detailed bill mentioning gold weight, stone weight, and making charges separately.
- Getting jewellery verified independently, especially if purchased for high-value events like weddings.
Lalitha Jewellery’s Response
At the time of writing, Lalitha Jewellery has not issued any official statement addressing these allegations. Attempts to reach their customer support team went unanswered. The silence has only added fuel to the fire, further eroding public trust.
Nisham Ismail 
arun564