Rajkot Loot-Murder: Interstate Operation Helps Rajkot Crime Branch Arrest 10 Accused Across States

In a cross-border operation, Rajkot City Crime Branch cracked the high-profile robbery and murder case registered at Thorala police station, arresting all ten accused involved in the crime and recovering stolen bullion alongside getaway vehicles worth ₹1.57 crore within hours of the incident.

The crime unfolded around 8:00 PM on October 14, 2026, near Bavishi Weighbridge on GIDC Main Road in the Thorala area. Laljibhai Lavjibhai Sardhara, manager at 'Tanvi Export India Limited', was carrying a bag containing 946 grams of refined gold bars valued at ₹1,48,90,000 and two kilograms of silver dust powder worth ₹4,30,000 from the factory unit toward his nearby showroom. As he mounted his scooter, four assailants arrived in a maroon Tata Tigor.

When Sardhara and factory security guard Bavanji Bapuji Padhiyar resisted the mugging attempt, one of the robbers fired three rounds at Sardhara. The manager died from gunshot injuries, allowing the gang to flee with the bullion bag.

Multi-State Co-ordination Traces Getaway Route

Following directives from senior officers, including Gujarat Police Chief Vikas Sahay and Rajkot Police Commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha, joint investigation teams comprising Crime Branch, Special Operations Group (SOG), LCB Zone-1, and local police launched a manhunt. CCTV analysis and technical surveillance quickly flagged the suspicious Tata Tigor bearing out-of-state details.

Rajkot police initiated inter-state coordination, alerting Rajasthan counterparts. Police officers at Pindwara police station in Sirohi district intercepted the Tata Tigor at Janapur Circle and detained four suspects. Video interrogations revealed that two co-conspirators had escaped with the stolen loot in a Kia Sonet car.

Udaipur control room alerted Badgaon police station, leading to the interception of the Kia Sonet in Badgaon, Rajasthan. Further interrogation helped teams track down additional accomplices in Samakhiali, Kutch, along with the local informant arrested directly in Rajkot.

Ten Suspects Remanded with Prior Criminal Records

Police formally arrested all ten individuals involved in the conspiracy:

• Ashwinikumar alias Lankesh Manoj Singh Rajput (27), resident of Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh

• Anurag Singh Omprakash Singh Rajput (21), resident of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh

• Vishal Singh Vinod Singh Rajput (23), resident of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh

• Shivam Girishchandra Gupta Prajapati (19), resident of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh

• Vedant Kant alias Aman Ramakant Pandey (28), resident of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

• Pawan Kumar Shivprasad Chaubey (39), resident of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

• Arvind alias Neeraj Harishankar Tiwari (35), resident of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

• Shaileshkumar Karmveer Kharwar (31), native of Chandauli, UP, residing on rent in Rajkot

• Amitkumar Ramshapath Pandey (24), resident of Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh

• Shivam Ashok Pandey (26), resident of Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh

Interrogations revealed extensive criminal backgrounds. Ashwinikumar and Amitkumar were previously booked in an attempted murder case in Chandauli in 2025, while Anurag Singh faced culpable homicide charges in UP. Shaileshkumar Kharwar was also listed in an offense at Palwal police station, Haryana.

Complete Property Recovery Secured

Investigating teams recovered property valued at ₹1,57,65,500 during the arrests:

• Refined gold bars (946 grams): ₹1,48,90,000
• Silver dust powder (2 kg): ₹4,30,000
• Tata Tigor car: ₹1,00,000
• Kia Sonet car: ₹3,00,000
• Mobile phones (8 units): ₹45,500

Legal proceedings against the ten accused are underway under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).