Ahmedabad, August 18: In a remarkable display of efficiency, the Gujarat police have cracked a diamond theft case worth ₹43.11 lakh within just seven hours. The joint operation by the Botad and Ahmedabad rural police led to the recovery of the stolen diamonds and the arrest of three suspects.
According to police reports, the theft occurred on Sunday afternoon at the office of diamond trader Ashok Bhai Kankotia, located in the Neelam Diamond Market in Botad. Approximately 1,437 carats of polished diamonds were taken during the incident.
During the investigation, police reviewed CCTV footage and tracked the suspects as they fled by train. The three individuals were eventually apprehended at the Bavla railway station in Ahmedabad rural district.
In total, police recovered 1,885.75 carats of diamonds from the suspects. Investigations regarding the additional diamonds are ongoing.
The theft took place between 1:09 PM and 1:23 PM on August 16, during which many shops in the market were closed due to the Sunday holiday. CCTV footage revealed a woman disguised as a beggar entering through the back door of the office. Approximately 14 minutes later, she exited with a package.
Upon discovering the theft, trader Ashok Bhai Kankotia found that a drawer had been forced open, and bags containing diamonds were missing. The stolen diamonds were valued at around ₹3,000 per carat, totaling ₹43.11 lakh.
Police traced the auto-rickshaw used by the woman, whose driver reported dropping her off in the Khodiyar Nagar area near the railway tracks. When police arrived, the suspect’s residence was found locked. Further investigation revealed that two women, two men, and a child had traveled to Botad railway station around 4:31 PM.
CCTV footage from the railway station showed the suspects boarding a local train to Ahmedabad with bags and other items. Utilizing railway technology, police tracked the train’s location. Once it was confirmed that the suspects had left Botad district, local police coordinated with Ahmedabad rural police.
Photos and descriptions of the suspects were shared via WhatsApp to police teams. A blockade was set up at Bavla railway station, and around 8:30 PM, police identified and apprehended the suspects as the train arrived.
Initially, the suspects denied involvement in the theft. However, a search revealed a leather wallet hidden under clothing and quilts in the woman’s bag, containing plastic zip-lock bags and 14 packets of diamonds.
With assistance from local jeweler Jignesh Soni, the diamonds were examined and weighed, totaling 1,885.75 carats. The complainant and their partner identified approximately 1,437 carats as the stolen diamonds, leading police to claim a 100% recovery of the stolen property.
The arrested individuals include Bachubhai Sadmiya (55), Vinabhai Dhirubhai alias Dharubhai Chauhan, and Sapnabhen (31). Police identified the woman seen in the CCTV footage as Sapnabhen.
From Bachubhai, police seized ₹4,000 in cash, while Vinabhai had ₹180 and a mobile phone. The total value of the seized property, including the stolen diamonds, mobile phone, and cash, is estimated at ₹43.17 lakh.
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