NRI woman alleges theft of jewellery worth ₹21 lakh from home in Ahmedabad

A woman has lodged a police complaint alleging that gold and diamond jewellery worth ₹21 lakh was stolen from her residence in the Vadaj area while she and her husband were travelling between India and the United States.

As per the case registered on May 19, Pritiben Bhatt, 58, a resident of Shivkrupa Society near Akhbarnagar in Vadaj, stated that the jewellery had gone missing from a cupboard on the upper floor of her house between December 28, 2025 and April 15, 2026.

Bhatt told police that she lives with her husband, Devangbhai Bhatt, who runs a motel business in the United States, and frequently travels between Ahmedabad and America. She said the couple usually keeps their jewellery in a locker at SBI Bank in Nirnaynagar and brings it home whenever they visit Ahmedabad.

According to the complaint, the couple returned to Ahmedabad in July 2025 and retrieved the jewellery from the bank locker in September 2025. The ornaments were then stored in a cupboard at their residence and worn occasionally during family functions and social occasions.

The complainant stated that the jewellery was last seen in the cupboard on December 28 . On April 15, while packing for a scheduled trip to the United States, she discovered that the ornaments were missing. Since their travel arrangements had already been confirmed, the family left for America after informing the police verbally about the matter, the FIR stated.

After returning to Ahmedabad on May 17, the family conducted another search for the missing valuables before formally approaching the police on May 19.

The stolen valuables allegedly include a rose gold set with earrings, two mangalsutras, a butterfly-design gold chain with a pendant, diamond earrings, diamond and gold rings, small gold bracelets, chains and religious ornaments. The complainant estimated the total weight of the jewellery at around 21 tolas, valued at approximately ₹21 lakh.

Bhatt informed police that some of the jewellery was ancestral property and therefore purchase receipts were unavailable. She also expressed suspicion regarding a domestic worker, identified as Payalben Parmar, who had been employed at the residence for household work.

Vadaj police have registered a case against an unidentified person and initiated an investigation into the alleged theft. Officials said statements of persons connected to the household and others identified during the course of the probe would be recorded.