Multi-Million Jewelry Robbery: Mastermind Turns Out to be an Indian Air Force Personnel

(Digital Itla) In the state of Gujarat, India, police have arrested an Indian Air Force Corporal accused of committing an armed robbery worth over 15 million Indian Rupees (1.5 crore) at a jewelry shop in Ahmedabad.

The Gujarat Police arrested 31-year-old IAF Corporal Deepak Bhokar from Delhi, where he was posted at an Air Force unit, for his involvement in the armed robbery of jewelry valued at 15.1 million Indian Rupees from a shop in Ahmedabad. According to police, the incident occurred on July 16, 2024, in the Manek Chowk area of Ahmedabad. The suspect entered the jewelry shop at midday with his face covered and wearing a red cap, looted jewelry worth 15.1 million INR, shot the shopkeeper in the knee upon facing resistance, and fled the scene.

Investigating authorities stated that the suspect left Ahmedabad immediately after the crime and evaded law enforcement agencies for nearly two years. However, on Friday, an Ahmedabad court handed him over to the police on an eight-day physical remand. According to senior police official Rupal Solanki, a major breakthrough in the case occurred when police received information that a service revolver stolen from the home of a retired IAF officer in Jamnagar was utilized in this robbery. Following this tip-off, special teams comprising the Local Crime Branch and Khadia Police were formed, which restarted the investigation into the Jamnagar theft case.

Police noted that a comparative analysis of CCTV footage from both incidents made it possible to identify the suspect. Investigation revealed that the suspect was stationed at the Jamnagar Air Force unit at the time of the crimes before later being transferred to Delhi. An Ahmedabad police team reached Delhi and arrested the suspect, recovering the service revolver and bullets used in the crime from his barracks, after which legal proceedings were initiated. Police added that the suspect was highly skilled in using modern technology and used fake Aadhaar cards and multiple mobile numbers to evade arrest. He continuously adopted fake identities during hotel stays and wrapped tape around his fingers to avoid leaving fingerprints. Officials stated that due to his service in the Indian Air Force, the suspect had received specialized training in firearms handling and shooting. According to police, he changed clothes multiple times and switched between six to seven auto-rickshaws along his escape route to shake off pursuers. The investigation also revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested in Jamnagar in a case related to liquor law violations. Police stated that following this arrest, both the Jamnagar house theft and the Ahmedabad jewelry shop robbery cases have been resolved.