KATHMANDU: Police arrested two absconding persons for their alleged involvement in swindling a man of Rs 1.27 million by selling a fake gold statue of Buddha.

The suspects have been identified as Pradip BK (26) of Kumari-6 of Nuwakot, currently living at Matatirtha, Thankot and Santosh Kharel (23) of Kharelthok-2 of Kavre, currently residing at Kapan of Kathmandu.

The duo had approached gold entrepreneur Bhuwan Sunar of Chandragiri Municipality-10 of Kathmandu and lured him by saying that they possessed a gold Buddha statue which costs Rs 10 million and they would sell it at Rs 1.5 million, the Metropolitan Police Crime Divison (MPCD) said.

Later, Sunar, after bargaining, had bought the statue at Rs 1.27 million.

After Sunar realised that he was hoodwinked and bought the statue of metal instead of gold, he reached the MPCD and filed a complaint against the duo.

Following the complaint, a police team deployed from the MPCD swung into action and nabbed Pradeep and Santosh from Nuwakot and Koteshwor on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Police said that they had apprehended their associates Deepak Sunar (22) and Min Bahadur Chhetri (51) of Kumari-6, Nuwakot district on February 27.

The duo has been sent to the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu for investigation.