5 held for looting jewellery shop, melted silver recovered

Times News Network

Jaipur: Police in Jaipur Monday arrested five accused, including a woman, in connection with a burglary in the Sadar police station area and recovered melted silver bullion worth around Rs 45 lakh. The case was cracked within 15 days.

The accused were identified as Rakesh alias Rakla (18); Roshan alias Pawla (32), originally from Raghuvir Nagar in New Delhi and currently residing in Bhavnagar, his wife Bhavna alias Bhavika (26), a resident of Bhavnagar; Manish Halvadiya (29) of Paschim Puri, Delhi; and Manoj alias Maniya (22), originally from Bhavnagar and currently living in Daya Basti, Delhi.

The case came to light after Balram Soni lodged an FIR on April 12, stating that unidentified persons broke into his jewellery shop near Khasa and decamped with valuables.

“Following the incident, a team was constituted and multiple CCTV footages were analysed. The suspects were identified and later arrested from Sihor in Gujarat,” said Prashant Kiran, deputy commissioner of police (West).

Police recovered 10 kg 470 grams of pure silver in bullion form, which investigators said was prepared by melting the stolen jewellery. Officials added that the gang’s involvement in other theft cases has also surfaced during preliminary investigation.

According to police, the accused conducted a recce of the area by posing as hawkers selling plastic goods, clothes and utensils. After surveying the target, they returned to Gujarat and came back to Jaipur about 15 days ago to execute the plan.

Investigators said the accused reached Jaipur in the evening and waited at the railway station until late night to avoid suspicion. “Around 2am, they broke open the rear gate of the jewellery shop, entered the premises and fled with silver jewellery worth nearly Rs 45 lakh,” an officer said.

Police said sustained technical surveillance and CCTV analysis helped track the accused across states. Further interrogation is underway to ascertain their involvement in similar crimes in Jaipur and other cities. Efforts are on to identify buyers or handlers linked to the melted silver.