Ahmedabad Police Nab Pharmacy Graduate from Pali Forest After Theft of 14 iPhone worth ₹10.70 Lakh on Pune Bus
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Ahmedabad Police have arrested a 32-year-old pharmacy graduate from the forest region of Pali, Rajasthan, for allegedly stealing 14 iPhones valued at ₹10.70 lakh from a luxury bus travelling from Pune.
A joint operation by the Ramol Police and the Zone-5 Local Crime Branch (LCB) tracked down the accused, Gajendrasinh Rajput, to a relative's house near the Jawai Leopard Sanctuary in Sumerpur. Officers also detained an Ahmedabad resident, Mohsin, who allegedly bought the stolen handsets. Early interrogation revealed a broader international angle, with police confirming that the stolen devices were smuggled to Dubai.
Eavesdropped Instructions and Highway Heist
The theft took place on August 15 aboard an overnight luxury bus coming into Ahmedabad. A Pune-based mobile dealer, Suresh Thakor, had dispatched the parcel containing 14 iPhones to Salman, a merchant running a shop on Ashram Road.
Rajput, who earns ₹25,000 monthly working at a hospital dispensary in Pune, was travelling on the same bus. While the parcel was being handed over in Pune, Rajput stood nearby pretending to spit, overheard the dealer instructing the bus crew to guard the high-value shipment, and subsequently lifted the package during the journey.
Resort Stays and Digital Evasion
Investigators revealed that Rajput sold the stolen phones to Mohsin and used the proceeds to fund a stay with his girlfriend at a luxury resort in Udaipur, where he also gifted her one of the stolen iPhones.
To evade tracking, Rajput deactivated his primary SIM card and cellular data, relying strictly on internet calls using a Wi-Fi dongle. Acting on targeted intelligence regarding his hideout in Pali, the LCB team raided the location and seized cash worth ₹8,500 along with another iPhone, taking the total immediate recovery to ₹2.28 lakh.
Prior Criminal Record and Dubai Link
Background checks showed that Rajput has a prior criminal record, including an offence registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Himmatnagar police station.
Ramol Police are now investigating the supply chain that facilitated the transfer of the stolen electronics from local receivers in Gujarat to markets in Dubai.
