Mumbai: In a shocking case of betrayal and premeditated theft, the MHB Police have arrested a 19-year-old employee who absconded with gold jewellery worth ₹12 crore from a national jewellery firm. The twist: the heist was allegedly masterminded by his own father. After an intensive 72-hour operation, the police not only arrested the accused but also recovered the entire stolen gold consignment.
The theft occurred on June 20, when two employees of JP Export Gold and Diamond Jewellery—a Gujarat-based company engaged in nationwide gold sales—arrived in Mumbai to deliver jewellery. The accused, Jignesh Kuchadia (19), employed as an assistant, accompanied senior salesperson Ajay Ghagda (27) to the company’s apartment in Borivali. While Ghagda was occupied, Jignesh fled with two bags containing gold jewellery.
The MHB Police swiftly registered a case and formed multiple teams under the supervision of DCP Zone 11 Anand Bhoite. Although Jignesh was the prime suspect, investigations revealed that the theft had been orchestrated by his father, Nathabhai Kuchadia (50), a known criminal with prior cases of murder and other serious offences in Gujarat.
Knowing that the accused hailed from Gujarat, the police laid traps at railway stations, airports, and along the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway. Special teams conducted raids in Porbandar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Junagadh. Eventually, it was learned that the suspects were headed towards Junagadh in Rajkot district.
In a coordinated chase, police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle and apprehended Jignesh, his father Nathabhai, and an accomplice, Yash Odedra (21). The trio had hidden the stolen jewellery in a forested area in Manikvada, Gujarat. The entire consignment, worth ₹12 crore, was recovered.
Following their arrest, the suspects were produced before a Junagadh court and subsequently transferred to Mumbai, where a Borivali Sessions Court remanded them in police custody till June 30. The successful operation was led by Senior Inspector Ganesh Pawar of MHB Police Station, with key contributions from Inspector (Crime) Atul Awhad, API Babulal Shinde, and officers Ganesh Torgal, Ganesh Targe, and Vaibhav Salunkhe.
