Armed robbers break into Bodakdev bungalow, loot gold, diamonds, cash worth ₹23 lakh, threaten couple

In a late-night house break-in in Ahmedabad’s upscale Bodakdev area on Friday, a 75-year-old businessman and his wife were allegedly held at knifepoint by three masked robbers who broke into their bungalow and fled with gold, diamond-studded jewellery, watches and cash collectively worth ₹22.91 lakh.

As per the FIR lodged at Bodakdev police station, the complainant, Bharatbhai Babubhai Shah (75), a resident of Aryaman Bungalows on Thaltej–Shilaj Road, stated that the incident occurred in the early hours of October 27 while he and his wife Pallavi, were asleep in their first-floor bedroom. The couple runs a textile machinery manufacturing business under the name Crossmark Innovation at Changodar.

Shah told the police that around 1.30 am, he woke up briefly to use the bathroom and returned to find the bedroom door slightly ajar. Ten minutes later, he noticed two masked men inside the room, armed with knife-like weapons. “They pointed a knife at me and warned me in Hindi not to shout, saying “Awaaz mat karna, warna maar denge” (Don’t make a sound, or we’ll kill you).

When his wife woke up, a third intruder joined the others and allegedly threatened to kill Shah if she did not cooperate. Terrified, she led them to an iron safe concealed inside a wall cupboard in the dressing room. The robbers then forced her to open the safe and emptied it of its contents.

The stolen valuables include multiple gold bangles, diamond-studded ornaments, necklaces, a platinum bracelet, gold bars and luxury watches from brands such as Rado and Longines, apart from ₹1 lakh in cash. The total loss was estimated at ₹22.91 lakh.

Before fleeing, the robbers reportedly made the couple swear not to inform the police, threatening them with death if they did so. “They placed my wife’s hand on my head and said, ‘If you call the police, we will kill both of you,’” Shah said in his statement.

The couple remained in their bedroom until dawn out of fear. Around 5 am, they went downstairs to alert their security guard and discovered that the window glass near the dining area at the back of the house had been broken. CCTV footage from their home later showed three men scaling the compound wall from the rear side, entering the house through the shattered window at 12.57 am, and leaving around 2.48 am with the stolen items.

Police have registered a case under Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against three unidentified accused and have started an investigation.

Efforts are underway by Bodakdev police to identify the suspects through CCTV footage and local intelligence.