Raigad police turn robbers? Rs 1.5 crore heist exposes cop corruption

Maharashtra: Six individuals, including three police constables, have been arrested for looting jewellers with a fake gold scheme, exposing corruption within the force.The audacious crime involved a bogus gold offer, a staged police check, and a brazen theft, leading to a swift investigation and recovery of the stolen funds.

Enticement and Deceit

The Raigad police have apprehended six individuals, including three of their own constables, for their involvement in a meticulously planned heist that targeted two jewellers. The accused allegedly swindled the jewellers out of ₹1.5 crore under the guise of a cheap gold deal. The mastermind behind the operation was identified as Samadhan Pinjari, an employee of a private firm in Alibag. He contacted Namdev Hulge, a Nagpur-based jeweller, with an offer to sell 7 kg of gold for ₹5 crore.

Staged Police Check and Theft

Lured by the prospect of a lucrative deal, Hulge enlisted the help of his relative, Omkar Waksha, a jeweller from Navi Mumbai, to raise the necessary funds. On February 4, Hulge, Waksha, and an employee traveled to Alibag with ₹1.5 crore in cash. The jewellers were then directed to switch vehicles, ostensibly to avoid police inspections, only to be intercepted by two police constables. The constables, feigning a search, ordered the jewellers out of the vehicle and absconded with the cash.

Intimidation and Exposure

The following day, one of the absconding constables, Suryavanshi, contacted the jewellers, accusing them of stealing ₹2 crore and threatening them with arrest if they reported the incident to the police. However, the jewellers bravely approached Somnath Gharge, superintendent of police, Raigad, on February 7, to report the crime and the constables' involvement. Gharge promptly initiated an inquiry, leading to the arrest of six individuals and the recovery of the stolen ₹1.5 crore. As of February 11, 2025, two more suspects, including constable Suryavanshi, remain at large.