(This story originally appeared in on Oct 27, 2019)

KALYAN: Thousands of investors who had deposited money in two schemes floated by a jewellery store have been left in the lurch after its owners shut their shops four days ago and went into hiding. When police landed at the Dombivli home of Goodwin Jewellers ' owners Sunilkumar and Sudeeshkumar on Saturday, it was locked. Their showroom in Dombivli has been sealed.The Kumars, who hail from from Kerala, had at least 13 outlets in Mumbai and Pune. Most of the investors in their schemes are Keralities settled in Mumbai. The website of Goodwin Group, a private limited company, describes Sunilkumar as the chairman and and Sudeeshkumar as the managing director.People claimed to have invested between Rs 2,000 and over Rs 50 lakh. But police believe the amount could run into crores. S P Aher, senior inspector at Ramnagar police station, said, “We have filed a cheating case against the owners and their area manager Manish Kundi, and a probe is on.” He added that around 250 people had approached them from only Dombivli so far and their statements were being recorded to find out exact sum involved. Sunilkumar’s phone had been switched off when TOI tried to contact him.After news about Goodwin’s Dombivli showroom having been shut spread, investors came in large numbers to lodge complaints with police. More are likely to approach the police after Diwali The Kumars, who own Goodwin Jewellers, in which thousands had invested, have been in the jewellery business for over 22 years. A voice message believed to be from the chairman promised investors that their investments were safe and would be returned. “What has happened is an outcome of a miscampaign that began three years ago when my family was in trouble. The business has been affected, but we are in the process of bringing in new ideas to tackle it,” the message said.The investors claimed the Dombivli office was closed on October 21 and when they enquired with the staff over phone, they were told it would remain closed for two days. But the shop being shut even during Diwali sparked worries.Sandesh Mudaliyar, an investor, said: “To attract investors, both the owner-brothers held programmes where they would invite celebrities from Bollywood and the Kerala film world.”The firm had employed agents on a commission basis to garner deposits. Another investor said he and his brother invested Rs 1 lakh only because it generated some income for the agent. “Our father began this investment five years ago. We continued with the gold scheme as the agent earned a livelihood from that income,’’ said Unni Narayan.After the news spread, people began gathering outside Goodwin showrooms in Thane too. “I had invested over Rs 3 lakh and was saving it for future health expenses,” said Anuya Misal.