Ahmedabad Crime Branch cracks ₹1.51 crore jewellery robbery

Nearly two years after a ₹1.51 crore armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Ahmedabad's Manek Chowk, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and Khadia Police have arrested an Indian Air Force corporal from New Delhi, alleging that he planned and executed the robbery using a stolen service revolver.

The accused has been identified as Deepak Ramesh Pratap Singh Bhuker (31), a native of Jhajjar district in Haryana, who was serving with the Indian Air Force and was posted at the 7 Base Repair Depot, Tughlakabad, New Delhi, at the time of his arrest.

According to police, the robbery took place on July 16, 2024, when a masked gunman entered Soni Himmatmal Shankarlal Jewellers near Fernandes Bridge in Manek Chowk and allegedly looted gold chains, rings, gold biscuits, a 10-kg silver bar, jewellery and cash collectively worth over ₹1.51 crore. During the robbery, the accused allegedly opened fire, injuring the shop owner's father in the leg before fleeing.

The case had remained unsolved for nearly two years despite an extensive investigation.

Stolen service revolver led police to accused

Police said the breakthrough came after investigators linked the weapon used in the robbery to a house-breaking case registered in Jamnagar, in which a service revolver had allegedly been stolen.

Technical surveillance, CCTV footage analysis and human intelligence reportedly established that the same firearm stolen in Jamnagar had been used in the Manek Chowk jewellery robbery.

Joint teams of the Zone-3 Local Crime Branch and Khadia Police Station investigated both cases simultaneously and allegedly traced the suspect, who had been transferred from the Air Force unit in Jamnagar to Delhi.

A police team travelled to Delhi and apprehended the accused from the Air Force establishment. During the operation, officers allegedly recovered the stolen service revolver used in the robbery along with five live cartridges from his barracks. The weapon and ammunition have been seized as evidence.

Used fake Aadhaar, changed vehicles to evade police

Investigators alleged that the accused meticulously planned the crime to avoid detection. He allegedly stayed in hotels using a forged Aadhaar card and a mobile number obtained using a fake identity. To avoid leaving forensic evidence, he reportedly wrapped bandages around his fingers to prevent fingerprints from being left at the crime scene.

Police further claimed that, owing to his military training, the accused had advanced knowledge of firearms and marksmanship. After committing the robbery, he allegedly changed his clothes and used four different autorickshaws to escape and mislead investigators.

Deepak has been booked in connection with both the Manek Chowk armed jewellery robbery and the Jamnagar house-breaking case involving the theft of the service revolver.

Police records also show that the accused was previously convicted in a cheque dishonour case under the Negotiable Instruments Act by a Jamnagar court and is also named in another criminal case registered in the district.

The investigation was jointly carried out by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and Khadia Police, while further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in any other similar offences.