Multi-million dollar daylight heist exposed — company employee, kin behind the plot

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): Mumbai Police have solved a daylight robbery case and recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.29 crore. The robbery took place in the Sewri area and was carried out by a jewellery company employee and his relatives from Rajasthan. Police have arrested four accused and recovered the entire stolen goods. According to Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (RAK) Marg police, the incident occurred around 2.30 pm on October 13.

Shyamalbhai Hothibhai Rabari (31), a delivery agent for Master Chain & Jewels, and his colleague Jagdish Kerabhai Aal were carrying 2,067.143 grams of gold jewellery from Quality Assay & Hallmark LLP to the company's factory in Kalachowki. Two motorcycle-borne assailants rammed their bike on Zakaria Bunder Road near Sewri Court. One of the assailants threatened them with a pistol and fled with gold worth ₹2.29 crore. Upon learning of the incident, Shyamalbhai informed his employer, Raj Kothari, who filed a complaint at the RAK Marg police station. Under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Ragasudha R (Zone 4), Senior Inspector Vinod Tawde formed eight police teams.

Examination of CCTV footage and technical evidence cast doubt on Shyamalbhai's story. A thorough investigation revealed that Shyamalbhai, along with his associate Jagdish and two relatives from Rajasthan, Bhanaram Bhagraj Rabari (21) and Lilaram Nagji Devasi (21), had conspired to stage the fake robbery. Based on digital clues, police apprehended Bhanaram and Lilaram from Odhav village in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, while they were trying to flee to their village in Jalore district, Rajasthan.

Police recovered all the stolen gold and their mobile phones from the four accused. Investigations revealed that Shyamalbhai had been working at the company for the past six to seven years and was well-versed in its procedures. Financial difficulties led him to hatch this conspiracy. The jewelry was submitted for hallmarking on October 11th, and after receiving it on October 13th, Shyamalbhai and Jagdish staged a fake robbery. Police solved the case within a few days, but investigations into other possible crimes are ongoing.