Nagpur police have cracked the case involving the robbery of gold and silver jewellery worth approximately Rs 40 lakh from a jeweller’s shop in the city’s MIDC police station area. Four alleged members of an interstate gang have been arrested from Bareilly, Noida and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil disclosed the details at a press conference held on October 14. The Fortuner car allegedly used in the crime has been seized, while the search for other members of the gang continues.
Police said the suspects entered the jeweller’s shop in broad daylight, threatened an employee with what appeared to be a firearm and warned him that he would be killed. They forcibly took the gold and silver jewellery kept in the shop and assaulted the employee before fleeing.
Jeweller’s shop targeted on Hingna Road
According to the police, the robbery took place between approximately 4.40pm and 4.55pm on October 3, 2026, in front of Mahakali Bar on Hingna Road, within the jurisdiction of the MIDC police station.
Rakesh Subhash Dhomne, 39, a resident of Gajanan Nagar in the MIDC area, operates a gold and silver jewellery shop named Dhomne Jewellers at the location. His employee, Shubham Khemraj Hadge, 24, was present at the shop when the incident occurred.
Four unidentified men entered the shop and frightened Shubham with an object that appeared to be a firearm. After threatening to kill him, they forcibly took the gold and silver jewellery from the premises. The suspects also assaulted Shubham before escaping.
The stolen jewellery weighed approximately 350 grams and was estimated to be worth around Rs 40 lakh. Following a complaint by the jeweller, the MIDC police registered a case under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Investigation based on CCTV, AI and technical evidence
Given the seriousness of the incident, the MIDC police and Nagpur Crime Branch began parallel investigations. Identifying the suspects was a major challenge as they had fled after the robbery.
Police collected recordings from CCTV cameras at and around the crime scene and analysed around 300 to 400 videos. The investigation focused on the suspects’ movements, possible escape routes and other aspects linked to the crime.
Along with technical analysis, police used artificial intelligence technology and connected circumstantial evidence to identify the suspects and locate their possible hideouts.
As the investigation progressed, police learned that the suspects had left Maharashtra. Two special Crime Branch teams were then sent to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Under the guidance of Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, the teams pursued the suspects continuously for seven days and conducted raids in different states.
Search conducted discreetly in Uttar Pradesh
According to the police press note, the two Crime Branch teams conducted their investigation in local areas for four days while keeping their identities confidential. They gathered technical information and sought the assistance of local police.
The teams collected information about the suspects’ possible locations, activities and contacts. When required, a third Crime Branch team was also sent to another state.
Police personnel continued tracking the suspects and searched different locations in coordination with local police. Based on the information gathered, they identified the suspects’ locations and moved to take them into custody.
After seven days of continuous efforts, the police achieved a breakthrough in the case.
First arrest in Bareilly
Police first detained Abhishek Singh Thakur in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and questioned him extensively. According to the police, the interrogation provided information about other people allegedly involved in the robbery, following which the investigation team intensified its search.
Three other alleged gang members were subsequently detained from different cities in Uttar Pradesh. Two were apprehended in Noida and one in Meerut. In all, four accused have been arrested in connection with the robbery of jewellery worth approximately Rs 40 lakh.
Four accused arrested from Bareilly, Noida and Meerut
According to the police press note, the arrested accused are:
- Abhishek Singh Thakur — Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
- Jairam alias Joginder Ashok Singh Thakur, 19 — Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Shubhankit Nileshkumar Chaturvedi, 22 — Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Rajan Sami Sharma, 29 — Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Police said all four were allegedly involved in the crime. The police press note described them as habitual offenders with criminal records. Their exact roles, the recovery of the stolen jewellery and the involvement of other associates are being investigated.
Fortuner used in crime seized
Police have seized the Fortuner allegedly used in the robbery. The vehicle’s registration number is MH-49-B-9192.
Investigators are examining facts linked to the seized vehicle and the suspects’ activities. Efforts are also under way to recover the stolen gold and silver jewellery and determine the roles of other people involved in the crime.
Police are also investigating why the suspects targeted this particular shop in Nagpur and which routes they used to escape after the robbery.
Assistance from police in other states
The Nagpur Crime Branch received assistance from police forces in other states during the operation. The police press note specifically acknowledged the support of Sachin Jha, head constable with the SWAT team in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, and Saharanpur Sub-Inspector Neeraj Pawar, along with police personnel Harendra, Amit Chikara, Jogendra and Vivek Rana.
Coordination with local police was a key part of the investigation in the other states. Police reached the suspects by combining locally gathered information with technical analysis.
The investigation therefore extended beyond Nagpur to several cities in Uttar Pradesh. Following sustained surveillance, analysis of technical evidence and joint efforts, police succeeded in taking four suspects into custody.
Investigation conducted under senior officers’ guidance
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Nagpur City Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajendra Dabhade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Deepak Agrawal and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Vaibhav Jadhav.
Crime Branch Police Inspector Shubhangi Deshmukh and Assistant Police Inspectors Chetan Borkhede, Nitin Chulpar and Rajaram Jadhav, along with other officers and personnel involved in the investigation, contributed to the operation.
The police team worked to solve the case through technical investigation, analysis of CCTV footage and coordination with police in other states.
The investigation is not yet complete. Police are continuing their search for other members of the gang, while efforts are under way to recover the jewellery worth approximately Rs 40 lakh and establish the precise role of each accused.
Police now face two key challenges: recovering the stolen jewellery and tracing other people linked to the interstate gang. More details about the alleged conspiracy and the gang’s network are expected to emerge after the investigation is completed.
