Ahmedabad rural police arrest Madhya Pradesh man in luxury bus gold heist, ornaments worth ₹45 lakh recovered

The Ahmedabad Rural Local Crime Branch (LCB) has arrested a man from Madhya Pradesh for allegedly stealing gold ornaments from passengers’ luggage aboard luxury buses parked near hotels by the highway. The arrest led to the recovery of 15 gold items, collectively worth over ₹45 lakh.

The accused, identified as Sakir Pathan, son of Kamal Chau Pathan and a resident of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh, was apprehended based on intelligence inputs and surveillance footage. According to officials, the accused was part of a mobile gang that targeted buses that halted overnight at highway-side hotels.

During routine patrols, the LCB team received specific intelligence about the accused’s whereabouts. Acting swiftly, officials detained Sakir and, upon interrogation, he confessed to stealing gold from a parked bus near Dhandhuka. The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dhandhuka police station.

Modus operandi

According to DySP Astha Rana of Ahmedabad Rural, the gang used a Maruti Brezza to travel across state lines with the sole purpose of committing theft. “They would target parked luxury buses, especially at night, and steal unattended or locked luggage that seemed likely to contain valuables,” Rana said.

Police say the gang was captured on CCTV stealing a gold-filled bag from a passenger’s luggage compartment in a bus outside a hotel near Dhandhuka. Using this footage and local intelligence, LCB teams tracked and arrested Sakir from Maharashtra.

Investigators have confirmed that Sakir operated alongside two accomplices who are currently absconding. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, with multiple police teams deployed across state borders.

Ornaments recovered

The following gold items were recovered from Sakir:

-A large necklace weighing 119.03 grams, worth ₹8.51 lakh

-Three smaller necklaces weighing 126.04 grams, valued at ₹10.17 lakh

 -A pair of bracelets weighing 109.16 grams, worth ₹8.81 lakh

 -A thick gold chain with a pendant (129.18 grams), valued at ₹10.43 lakh

-A thin chain with a pendant (20.18 grams), worth ₹1.62 lakh

-Two pairs of gold earrings (52.21 grams), worth ₹4.21 lakh

-Five gold-plated rings weighing 14.41 grams, valued at ₹1.17 lakh

In total, 569.94 grams of gold jewellery was recovered, with an estimated market value of ₹45.04 lakh.

Ongoing investigation

Following Sakir’s arrest, he was handed over to Dhandhuka Police for further inquiry. Authorities are now investigating whether the accused has a prior criminal record and if the gang has been involved in similar incidents across other districts or states.

“This case is a wake-up call regarding the growing threat posed by interstate theft gangs targeting long-distance luxury bus passengers,” said DySP Rana. She urged travellers to avoid leaving valuables unattended, even in locked baggage.