Thane, March 4: In a significant breakthrough, the Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested three individuals, including two jewellers, accused of stealing jewellery from passengers on express trains and subsequently dealing in the stolen valuables. The arrests were made in Maharashtra's Thane district, police reported on Tuesday.
The investigation began when a woman passenger's bag, containing valuable jewellery, was stolen aboard the Indore-Daund Express in January. Senior Inspector Vijay Khedkar stated that the GRP initiated an extensive investigation, meticulously examining surveillance footage and following numerous leads.
After weeks of surveillance and heightened nighttime monitoring of long-distance trains, police successfully apprehended the primary accused, identified as Mahesh Arun Ghag, on February 18. Ghag confessed to stealing the woman's jewellery and revealed that he had sold the stolen items to two jewellers based in Mumbai's prominent Zaveri Bazaar.
Following Ghag's confession, the GRP promptly traced and arrested the jewellers—Tanaji Mane (45) and Niteen Yele (44). Both jewellers admitted to purchasing the stolen valuables and confessed to melting down the stolen jewellery into gold blocks to conceal the evidence.
GRP officials successfully recovered gold blocks valued at approximately Rs 8.64 lakh from the accused jewellers. Inspector Khedkar further disclosed that the arrested suspects have links to at least three other jewellery theft cases previously reported at the Kalyan and Vasai Road GRP stations.
Police investigations continue, as authorities seek to determine whether additional suspects or stolen jewellery remain at large.
The investigation began when a woman passenger's bag, containing valuable jewellery, was stolen aboard the Indore-Daund Express in January. Senior Inspector Vijay Khedkar stated that the GRP initiated an extensive investigation, meticulously examining surveillance footage and following numerous leads.
After weeks of surveillance and heightened nighttime monitoring of long-distance trains, police successfully apprehended the primary accused, identified as Mahesh Arun Ghag, on February 18. Ghag confessed to stealing the woman's jewellery and revealed that he had sold the stolen items to two jewellers based in Mumbai's prominent Zaveri Bazaar.
Following Ghag's confession, the GRP promptly traced and arrested the jewellers—Tanaji Mane (45) and Niteen Yele (44). Both jewellers admitted to purchasing the stolen valuables and confessed to melting down the stolen jewellery into gold blocks to conceal the evidence.
GRP officials successfully recovered gold blocks valued at approximately Rs 8.64 lakh from the accused jewellers. Inspector Khedkar further disclosed that the arrested suspects have links to at least three other jewellery theft cases previously reported at the Kalyan and Vasai Road GRP stations.
Police investigations continue, as authorities seek to determine whether additional suspects or stolen jewellery remain at large.