Nagpur: A meticulously planned burglary at the bungalow of a prominent Nagpur businessman has sent shockwaves across Raj Nagar, with thieves decamping with valuables worth nearly Rs 3 crore, including diamond-studded jewellery, 2.4 kg of gold and Rs 65 lakh in cash. The daring theft occurred at the residence of petrol pump owner Baljinder Singh Inderjit Singh Nayyar (56) while the entire family was away at a social function.
Sadar Police have registered a case and launched a multi-agency probe, but the culprit remains at large.
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21 Jan 2026
The Nayyar family, which operates two petrol pumps in Nagpur and also deals in Hindustan Unilever distribution, resides in a joint-family bungalow at Shirke Layout in Raj Nagar. On Monday evening, the household was locked up as family members left to attend the engagement ceremony of Baljinder Nayyar’s younger son at a farmhouse in Kalmeshwar. They returned home around 3 am, only to discover that their house had been ransacked.
Police believe the burglar struck during this narrow window of opportunity. “The offender entered from the rear side of the bungalow by breaking open the grill of a kitchen window,” said Sadar Police Station in-charge Amol Deshmukh. “His face was covered with a scarf, and he moved around the house with striking confidence.”
Investigators said the intruder made a beeline for the room of Baljinder Nayyar’s mother, where a safe was kept. From it, he allegedly stole diamond-studded ornaments, gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings and gold coins, together weighing approximately 2.4 kg. More alarmingly, police found that the key to the safe had been accessed with ease.
“The accused knew precisely where the key was kept,” Deshmukh said. “This strongly points towards prior familiarity with the house.”
The burglar then entered the room of Baljinder’s brother Gurinder Singh and stole Rs 65 lakh in cash, which police said was the three-day cash collection from the family’s petrol pumps. After completing the theft, the accused fled through the same route used for entry.
Senior officers, including Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP Zone I Nityanand Jha and DCP Detection Rahul Maknikar, visited the spot and reviewed the preliminary investigation. According to crime branch officials, the execution of the burglary bears hallmarks of inside information or detailed reconnaissance.
“The offender avoided doors fitted with sensor locks and did not waste time searching rooms at random,” a senior officer said. “He went directly to specific locations, which is deeply concerning.”
Police also confirmed that CCTV cameras were installed at the bungalow. “The burglar first covered one camera with a cloth and then altered its angle,” an officer said, adding that this further indicated awareness of the surveillance system.
Teams from the forensic department, fingerprint bureau, dog squad and income tax department were pressed into service. While the dog squad failed to yield leads, fingerprint samples lifted from the scene are being matched with records of known professional burglars.
A case has been registered at Sadar Police Station, and investigators are examining all possible angles, including the role of a tip-off, as the hunt for the accused continues.
