Ahmedabad airport police crack ₹2.58-cr gold jewellery theft racket, arrest eight

The Airport Police Station in Ahmedabad has arrested eight persons and recovered property worth ₹1.72 crore in connection with the theft of a consignment containing gold jewellery valued at over ₹2.58 crore that had gone missing during air cargo transit from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru.

According to police, the case was registered after Balvirsingh Rathod of Sequel Logistics Company lodged a complaint stating that a parcel containing gold jewellery manufactured by RBZ Jewellers Ltd for Titan Company had disappeared during transit through the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport cargo terminal.

Police said the parcel, weighing around 13 kg and containing 2.107 kg of gold jewellery worth ₹2.58 crore, was among seven consignments handed over by the logistics company to Akasa Air around 2.15 am on April 18 for transportation to Bengaluru. While the remaining consignments reached their destination, the jewellery parcel allegedly never arrived.

Teams led by police officials conducted an extensive investigation using CCTV footage, technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs. Police said the probe uncovered an organised conspiracy involving airline employees, handlers and jewellery traders.

Among those arrested are Salemohammad alias Salam Mohammad Amin Ansari, who allegedly posed as a passenger to transport the bag carrying the stolen gold; Kadlipbhai alias Bapu Jayantibhai Patel, accused of arranging the air ticket; Roshankumar Patel, an Akasa Air cleaning in-charge; Zaid Hasan Ansari, an airline security in-charge; and Sultan Sama, who police identified as the alleged mastermind.

Police also arrested jewellers Ravikant Bagiya of Junagadh and Kiran Pawar and Shankar Wakase of Maharashtra for allegedly purchasing and processing the stolen gold.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly hatched a criminal conspiracy in which airline employees placed the jewellery-filled bag inside the luggage of a passenger after boarding. The bag was allegedly retrieved at Bengaluru airport and later brought back to Ahmedabad before the jewellery was melted and sold in parts through intermediaries.

Police said they recovered ₹69.24 lakh in cash, gold bars and melted gold pieces worth ₹1.02 crore, and a silver biscuit, taking the total recovered property to ₹1.72 crore.

Officials added that four more accused, including airline employee Jayesh Parmar and alleged money handlers Rizwan Majidbhai and Farooq Sama, remain absconding. Another accused, identified as Yogesh Patil, is also wanted in the case.