Dressed as women, looted as men: Four held in Expressway robbery racket

The Ahmedabad Rural Police have cracked a case of violent highway robbery that had sparked fear among truck drivers on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway. Four individuals were arrested after an extensive two-month investigation, during which the accused were found to have been involved in at least 14 robberies, using elaborate disguises and ambush tactics near toll plazas and secluded stretches of the highway.

According to officials from the Vivekanandanagar police station, on the night of May 30, 2025, a truck driver and his cleaner were attacked near the Geratnagar village, approximately one kilometre from the Ramol toll plaza. One of the accused, disguised as a woman, lured the truck off the highway under the pretext of seeking help. The moment the vehicle stopped, the driver and cleaner were dragged into the bushes, assaulted with hammers, and robbed of ₹25,000 in cash and approximately ₹24,000 worth of silver ornaments. The gang escaped into the darkness, leaving behind traumatised victims and little evidence.

Following the FIR lodged by Muljibhai Shadulbhai Bharwad, a resident of Borsad in Anand district, the police launched an intensive probe.

The investigation relied heavily on human intelligence, night patrolling, and technical surveillance. Over 70 mobile numbers were subjected to CDR (Call Detail Record) analysis. Sim cards, clothing remnants, and other trace evidence left by the suspects at previous crime scenes helped the team reconstruct their pattern.

The breakthrough came when a suspicious SIM card found at the crime scene led investigators to Devdi village in Daskroi taluka. There, after extensive surveillance, the police detained three suspects—Dineshbhai Wadi, Maheshbhai Wadi, and Devabhai alias Pemabhai Dhanabhai Nat. The fourth accused, Ajaybhai Pratapbhai, was arrested shortly afterwards.

The mastermind, Devabhai alias Pemabhai, was known to cross-dress as a woman to lure truck drivers, promising sexual favours. Once the driver was isolated, the other three accused would emerge from hiding and attack the victim with weapons before looting valuables.

Police officers, some disguised as decoys, even posed as drivers to replicate the setup and identify suspect movement near the highway. Based on eyewitness accounts and victim sketches, the gang was finally identified and nabbed. Three mobile phones were recovered from the accused’s residences, and ₹49,000 worth of cash and jewellery was seized.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to at least 14 such lootings, targeting truck drivers along isolated stretches. Police have since contacted past complainants and are matching the stolen property with reports filed from various districts, including Anand and Ahmedabad.

The four accused were produced before the court and have been remanded to police custody for further investigation. Officers said the gang had become so notorious that some truckers had begun avoiding night drives on the expressway.

Police said investigations are ongoing and more victims are being encouraged to come forward.