Jewellery shop heist: Dad of boy who died after drinking acid accidentally is 6th accused

BENGALURU: Police investigating the failed August 21 robbery at

Samrat

Jewels, Vyalikaval, arrested a 38-year-old goldsmith from the city on charges of plotting the heist.

Police have already arrested five men in the case and recovered country-made pistols from the accused.

The sixth accused to be arrested is Shankar, a resident of Kilari Road, Chickpet. His eight-year-old son S Sahil had died after consuming acid, mistaking it for a soft drink while celebrating his birthday on September 29, 2017.

Police said Shankar is a close relative of Balaji Gaikwad, 25, who is suspected to have been part of an armed gang that robbed Rs 20 lakh after barging into a bank in Satara, Maharashtra, in March this year.

While Maharashtra police had arrested other gang members, Gaikwad had succeeded in escaping with his share of booty and was living in Bengaluru. He also possessed a country-made pistol used in the offence.

“As his business was not doing well, Shankar had taken hand loans from many people and was deep in debt. Shankar and prime accused Prahlad Chowdhury plotted the heist and roped in Gaikwad and others to execute the plan,” said police.

Vyalikaval police had arrested Gaikwad, J Balvan Singh, 24, J Sriram Bishnoi, 23, and J Om Prakash, 22, seven hours after the futile robbery bid on August 21 around 2.45pm.

Later, police had arrested the alleged mastermind and KR Puram resident, Chowdhury, from his hideout in Pune.

On August 21 afternoon, Singh, who was accompanied by Gaikwad and Bishnoi, had shot one bullet at the ceiling of the Samrat Jewels while attempting the robbery. However, Rakhi, wife of the shop owner Ashish Kumar Jain, hurled a metal chair at Balvan, forcing the trio to flee.

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