Nine held for trying to sell ‘antique’ coin to homeguard

Pune: The Nigdi police on Thursday arrested nine people after they tried to sell a supposedly antique ‘Lebbo’ coin to a homeguard. Lebbo is a Greek term for “sun guard”. The coin is sought-after for its perceived magical powers.
One of the suspects got in touch with the homeguard, Vaibhav Taware, and claimed the coin was worth Rs10 crore due to its high iridium content.
Sub-inspector Raosaheb Bamble said Taware told the police about the “deal” and that the suspects would be coming to Akurdi to sell him the coin. “Our team laid a trap at Akurdi and arrested nine people who arrived there in two cars,” Bamble said.
A team, led by senior inspector Ganesh Jawadwad, recovered the coin, Rs70,000 in cash, the two cars and nine cellphones from the suspects. The coin was found in the possession of Harish Patil (68) of Aurangabad. “The others were were looking for buyers,” Bamble said.
During questioning, Patil said he bought the coin from a farmer in Kerala. “The suspects have been arrested under IPC and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,” Bamble said.