Vadodara: Seven men, including a jeweller accused of plotting the crime, were arrested on Friday for allegedly stealing gold jewellery worth Rs 8 crore from the sales representative of a Mumbai-based jewellery firm in Vadodara on Oct 11. Police have recovered jewellery worth Rs 3.12 crore so far.According to the crime branch, the alleged mastermind, Bhavik Soni, planned the theft and enlisted six others to carry it out.Police said Soni rented a shop on Waghodia Road and contacted Himanshu Jain, a sales representative of a Mumbai-based jewellery firm, claiming he wanted to buy jewellery. Jain travelled to Vadodara with jewellery worth Rs 8 crore and visited the shop.Investigators said Jain had known Soni through business dealings since 2017 and trusted him. After examining the jewellery, Soni invited Jain for lunch. Jain declined, though a relative accompanying him joined Soni.Police said Soni then asked Jain to leave the jewellery bags inside the shop and locked the premises from outside. Jain later told investigators that he went to use the washroom in an adjacent restaurant and was away for about 12 minutes.During that period, the other accused, identified as Mahesh Bharwad, Rahul Bharwad, Deepak Waghela and Jayesh Kahar, allegedly arrived at the shop.“Soni had hidden one key to the shop under a water jug outside the shop and had told the accused about it. When Jain was away, the four men opened the shop and took away the bags of jewellery. Soni paid Mahesh Rs 40,000 in advance along with some silver jewellery for committing the crime,” a police officer said.When Jain returned, he found the shop open and the jewellery missing. He approached police, who examined CCTV footage from the area. The footage showed the suspects leaving with the bags on motorcycles.Police said the group travelled to Halol in Panchmahal district, changed clothes and gathered at a farmhouse rented by one Sajan Bhoi. The bag was discarded and the jewellery divided among the gang with the help of another accused, Sagar Vaghela. Rahul Mir was also part of the group, police said.Crime branch officers said they suspected Soni’s involvement early in the investigation and kept him under surveillance. CCTV footage and technical surveillance helped investigators unravel the case.Of the seven accused, six have criminal records and have previously been booked for offences including robbery, burglary, rioting, attempt to murder, kidnapping, assault and vehicle theft.“We have recovered stolen jewellery worth Rs 3.12 crore so far,” a police officer said.
