Pickpocket steals ₹5.5 lakh from jewellery shop employee in Manek Chowk

A jewellery shop employee was allegedly pickpocketed of ₹5.5 lakh in cash while carrying ₹45 lakh to purchase gold biscuits in the crowded Manek Chowk area on Friday afternoon. The incident, captured on CCTV camera, has led to the registration of a theft case by the Khadia police.

Vikram Singh Rajput, 24, has been working at Jaimataji Jewellers in Manek Chowk for the past four years. On May 29, his employer allegedly entrusted him with ₹45 lakh in cash and instructed him to deliver the amount to a bullion trader in Dedkani Pol for the purchase of gold biscuits.

Vikram left the jewellery shop around 1.15 pm carrying the cash in a blue school bag and proceeded on foot through the busy commercial lanes of Manek Chowk towards Patidar Bullion in Dedkani Pol.

Upon reaching the bullion trader's premises around 1.30 pm, he was handed four gold biscuits weighing 100 grams each. However, when he opened the bag to make the payment, he discovered that a substantial portion of the cash was missing.

The employee immediately informed his employer, Sher Singh l Rajput, who arrived at the shop and recounted the cash. The duo allegedly found that ₹5.5 lakh was missing from the bag.

Suspecting theft, they began reviewing CCTV footage from shops located along the route taken by the employee. During the scrutiny of footage from a shop named 'Master Chain' on M G Haveli Road, they allegedly spotted a man walking behind Vikram.

The suspect, described as being aged between 25 and 30 years, wearing a white shirt, black trousers and a black cap, was carrying two bags. CCTV footage purportedly showed him discreetly opening the zip of Vikram’s bag and removing bundles of cash without attracting attention.

Police said the stolen amount comprised five bundles of ₹500 denomination notes worth ₹5 lakh and one bundle of ₹100 denomination notes worth ₹50,000, taking the total stolen cash to ₹5.5 lakh.

After allegedly removing the money, the suspect fled the area. The theft came to light only when the complainant reached the bullion trader and attempted to hand over the cash.

Based on the complaint, Khadia police have registered a case against an unidentified accused and launched an investigation. Officers are analysing CCTV footage from the area and examining possible escape routes used by the suspect.