On December 2, the group targeted Radhika Jewellers in Gandhidham, posing as ED officers to conduct a staged raid on the shop and the owner’s residence. The gang stole gold, silver, and cash totalling ₹25,25,225 during the operation.
The store owner, suspecting foul play after discovering missing valuables, filed a complaint with Gandhidham A-Division Police Station. Given the gravity of the crime, the East Kutch Local Crime Branch (LCB) took charge of the investigation, employing advanced methods like technical surveillance, human intelligence, and analysis of CCTV footage.
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These efforts led to the identification and arrest of the suspects from Bhuj, Gandhidham, and Ahmedabad.
Among those arrested was Shailendra Desai, who led the operation and posed as the chief ED officer. Desai is employed as a translator at the Ahmedabad DRM office. The gang included one woman, and police investigations revealed that one member had a prior criminal record, indicating involvement in other suspicious activities.
The fake ED team executed the raid with precision, spending over three hours at the jewellery shop and the owner’s residence. They claimed to be investigating the jeweller’s records and extended their search to the homes of the owner’s brothers. After completing their “inspection,” the group claimed, “We came to the wrong place,” and left the premises.
Upon realising the theft, the jeweller reviewed his stock and found gold ornaments, silver items, and cash missing. The police, acting swiftly, traced the gang and recovered valuables worth ₹45.82 lakh.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of their operations and identify other potential victims.
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(Edited by : Vivek Dubey)
