Mumbai: In response to messages that have reportedly been circulating on social media about a number of leading Indian diamond companies said to be involved with recent mixing of synthetic and natural diamonds, India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and the Surat Diamond Association (SDA) issued a joint statement this week warning of legal action against those caught selling undisclosed mixed diamonds in the market.

“Certain unscrupulous elements have created havoc in the industry from the past two weeks. It’s a calculated move to tarnish the image of leading diamond companies. We request the diamantaires in India and industry people across the global to stay away from such rumours,” said GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah, as quoted by The Times of India (TOI).

According to SDA president Dinesh Navadia, an industry meeting was held on Tuesday during which it was unanimously decided to initiate stringent legal action against those caught selling the lab-grown diamonds mixed with natural diamonds and for those companies manufacturing lab-grown diamonds without disclosure. “We want the government to frame a special law for such illegal practice to stop people from indulging in such activities,” Navadia said, as cited by the TOI.

To stem undisclosed mixing, diamond detection and resource centers have been established by the GJEPC at the Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) in Surat and at the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai.