Gang targeting devotees, bus passengers busted in Ahmedabad, jewellery worth ₹11 lakh seized

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has busted a gang involved in stealing gold ornaments from devotees and public transport passengers by exploiting crowded religious sites and rush during boarding of State Transport (ST) buses. Four accused have been arrested, and gold jewellery worth over ₹11 lakh has been recovered.

The investigation began after multiple complaints were registered across Gujarat and Rajasthan. In one such incident near Gundi village in the Thotha Post Office area of Bhavnagar district, an unidentified person allegedly snatched a rudraksha mala from a complainant while he was boarding an ST bus. In other cases reported around five months ago, gold chains, pendants and Tulsi malas were stolen from devotees visiting the Guru Ashram at Bagdana in Bhavnagar district and the Ranuja temple in Rajasthan during Poonam and Bij religious occasions.

Based on technical and human intelligence, the Crime Branch found that the gang operated at crowded pilgrimage centres and bus stations, targeting devotees during darshan and passengers while boarding buses. Acting on the inputs, the police arrested the accused and recovered stolen ornaments, including gold chains, necklaces and pendants.

Police said a total of 92 gold necklaces, three gold chains, one gold pendant and other religious ornaments were seized, with an estimated value of ₹11.18 lakh. The recovered property has been handed over to the respective police stations for further legal proceedings.

The arrested accused have been identified as Jajya Dantani, a resident of Nikol; Sagar Devipujak, a resident of Khokhara; Jashodaben Devipujak, a resident of Patan; and Tinyben Devipujak, a resident of Patan.

Cases under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been detected at Pola Police Station and Bagdana Police Station in connection with the gang’s activities. Police also said that several of the accused have prior criminal records involving theft, gambling and public nuisance offences across different police stations in Ahmedabad and north Gujarat.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to stealing gold chains from two devotees who had visited the Ranuja temple in Rajasthan, police said, adding that further investigation is underway to trace additional offences and recover more stolen property.