Cuttack: Police Monday claimed to have cracked a jewellery theft at the residence of an industrialist with the arrest of five persons including the victim’s domestic help.
Police said an overwhelming desire to become rich overnight led domestic help Chandan Sahani alias Chandu (24) of Badachana in Jajpur district to steal gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh from the house of his employer Purusottam Lal Kandoi of Mansahi area in Chauliaganj police limits.
Four others who were arrested are Rahul Fateh (23), Ankit Bhatnakar (22) and Narayan More (24) of Nimachoudi of Lalbag police limits and Ajay Kumar Das (40) of Dharmasala police limits. Police seized 302 gram gold and 34 diamonds worth 9 lakh, a duplicate key and two hard disks from them.
Police said Kandoi, who has a mining business in Jajpur district, had engaged Chandu as domestic help four months back. Kandoi’s sister-in-law Bina had gone to Mumbai July 10 while Chandu was alone at house.
Bina returned from Mumbai August 11 and found the gold and diamonds were missing from a drawer. Chandu feigned ignorance when he was asked about the valuables. Later, Bina informed Kandoi about the matter and a complaint was lodged with police August 20. During probe, police became suspicious of Chandu after he went elusive. Subsequently, police nabbed him from Jajpur and cracked the case.
“Chandu with the help of his three associates hatched the plan to steal the valuables. The accused prepared a duplicate key of the locker and stole the ornaments,” police said.
“Chandu sold the gold and diamonds to Ajay, a goldsmith, in Chandikhol. Ajay later sold the ornaments to Rahul, a jewellery shop manager in Cuttack. Rahul and two goldsmiths – Ankit and Narayan – were arrested,” police added.
“Three associates of Chandu are on the run. We suspect they possess some stolen jewellery. Efforts are on to nab them,” Chauliganj inspector-in-charge Ajay Das said.
Post News Network
