Ahmedabad Crime Branch nabs duo for stealing valuables from sleeping passengers in luxury buses

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested two men accused of systematically stealing cash, gold and silver ornaments from the bags of sleeping passengers travelling in luxury buses at night. The arrests brought to light a series of thefts carried out across different routes in Gujarat and Rajasthan over the past five to six months.

According to the police, the accused, identified as Vishal Devipujak (21) and Karan Devipujak (23), both residents of Nadiad in Kheda district, would board luxury buses at night without purchasing tickets. Once inside, they targeted passengers who had dozed off, quietly rifled through their bags, and fled with valuables.

During the operation, the Crime Branch seized gold and silver ornaments worth ₹10.26 lakh along with ₹4 lakh in cash, together valued at ₹14.26 lakh. The items recovered include five small and large gold bars, bangles, earrings, chains, 20 silver coins, anklets, bracelets, rings and other ornaments.

Police said the two men confessed to multiple thefts. In one incident around three months ago, they allegedly stole a gold chain, three rings and ₹20,000 in cash from a passenger’s bag while travelling from Mehsana to CTM in Ahmedabad. In another case, they admitted to stealing a bag containing ₹15 lakh in cash about two and a half months ago.

The duo’s modus operandi involved targeting unsuspecting travellers on short and long-distance routes, exploiting the cover of darkness and the fact that passengers were asleep.

The case has been registered with Kotwali Police Station in Pali, Rajasthan, under relevant sections of the BNS. The seized property and the arrested men have been handed over to the Rajasthan police for further investigation.

Police also named Ketan Bango, a resident of Indiranagar, Nadiad, as a wanted accused in connection with the racket.