Bhuj builder's minor son caught at Ahmedabad airport after ₹95 lakh theft at home

In a high-stakes overnight operation, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Monday intercepted two teenagers, including the son of a prominent Bhuj-based builder, at the boarding gate of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, moments before they were to board a flight to Kolkata. The minor had allegedly stolen ₹95 lakh in cash from his home before fleeing with a friend, planning an extravagant getaway to Goa and then Kolkata.

According to police officials, the case began when the family of the minor, Rohit (name changed), discovered he had gone missing along with large amounts of cash stored at their residence. The family, known in Bhuj for their extensive construction business, grew concerned and approached local police, fearing the worst.

Initial investigations revealed that Rohit and his friend Sunil (name changed) had first booked tickets to Goa but later cancelled them, possibly fearing they would be caught. They then booked fresh tickets to Kolkata and checked into a hotel in Ahmedabad.

Acting on a tip-off provided by the Bhuj police, and with critical inputs from a travel agent and hotel staff, Ahmedabad Crime Branch began tracking the duo. “By the time our team reached the hotel, they had just left for the airport,” said a senior Crime Branch officer involved in the case.

With the clock ticking, the team rushed to the airport and contacted airport authorities to stop the boarding process. The boys had already checked in their baggage and were moments away from entering the departure lounge when the Crime Branch team detained them.

Officials said the ₹95 lakh stolen from the builder’s home was not carried directly to Ahmedabad. Instead, Rohit is believed to have hidden the cash at a location in Bhuj before travelling. The duo had initially planned a leisure trip to Goa using part of the money. “The lure of the stolen wealth likely tempted the friend to join him. We suspect the plan was to retrieve the money later,” an official added.

The Crime Branch has taken both minors into custody and informed Bhuj police and the families. The teenagers will be handed over to Bhuj police for further investigation, including recovery of the stolen amount.

The operation was carried out overnight with close coordination between Bhuj police, Ahmedabad Crime Branch, airport security and airline authorities. “Thanks to the timely action and inter-district coordination, a serious situation was prevented from escalating,” said Inspector Mahendra Salunke of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, who led the team.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of large sums of cash in residential homes and the ease with which minors are able to travel unmonitored.