A 20-year-old worker accused of stealing gold worth Rs 5.35 lakh from a jewellery manufacturing unit in Dahisar gave police the slip by boarding a flight to Kolkata while officers were keeping watch at Mumbai’s railway stations.

The MHB Colony police, however, tracked down Nasiruddin Yaar Ali Shaikh in his native village in West Bengal and arrested him with the help of the local police. Investigators later arrested Prashant Byapari, 39, a Zaveri Bazaar gold trader accused of purchasing the stolen gold. Police said they have recovered around 94 per cent of the stolen gold and cash generated from its sale.

How the theft unfolded

According to police, complainant Hisabuddin Shaikh runs Vaishali Industries, a jewellery manufacturing unit in Dahisar West that specialises in designer gold chains. Nasiruddin Shaikh worked at the unit along with four to six other workers.


Nasiruddin Shaikh chose to fly to Kolkata, even as the police thought he would try to escape the city by train. Illustration/Uday Mohite

On July 19, he allegedly fled with around 40 grams of gold that had been entrusted to him for manufacturing a designer gold chain.

The following day, the owner lodged a complaint with the MHB Colony police, following which a case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 

Flight foils railway trap

Initially, investigators suspected the accused would flee to his native East Burdwan district in West Bengal by train.
 
Police laid traps at:

>> Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)
>> Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) 

However, on July 21, an informer tipped off police that the accused had already flown to Kolkata and was hiding in his native village.

After obtaining permission from senior officers, an MHB police team travelled to West Bengal. With the assistance of the local police, Shaikh was arrested on July 23 and brought back to Mumbai on transit remand.

Gold trader also arrested

During interrogation, police learnt that the accused had allegedly sold the stolen gold to a trader in Zaveri Bazaar.
Police arrested Prashant Byapari, 39, for allegedly purchasing the stolen jewellery.

Investigators said around 94 per cent of the stolen gold, along with cash generated from its sale, has been recovered. Both accused are in police custody, and investigation is underway.

Police Speak

The investigation was carried out under the guidance of:
>> DCP Sandeep Ghughe (Zone II, North Region)
>> Senior Police Inspector Vivek Sonawane
 
Investigating officers:
>> API Shrikant Magar
>> PSI Sandeep Vatre
>> PSI Rahul Dalvi
 
Detection team:
>> HC Sandeep Parit
>> HC Satish Devkar
>> HC Arjun Aher
>> PC Sachin Manjule
>> PC Siddhesh Patil

The case

Accused: Nasiruddin Yaar Ali Shaikh, 20
Co-accused: Prashant Byapari, 39, gold trader
Place of theft: Vaishali Industries, Dahisar West
Gold stolen: Around 40 grams
Estimated value: Rs 5.35 lakh
Recovered: Around 94%