02 March,2026 06:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Police have recovered around 3 kg of gold ornaments and 5 kg of silver jewellery. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The MHB Police in Mumbai have arrested four accused in a massive jewellery theft case worth Rs 6.79 crore from a shop in Borivali, following an intense 48-day manhunt deep inside the forests of Rajasthan.
According to the sources, the daring burglary took place on the intervening night of January 13-14 at a jewellery shop in IC Colony. The complainant, Sanket Bantichan Porwal, reported that gold, silver, and diamond ornaments worth Rs 6,79,85,000 were stolen from the shop's safe.
Investigations revealed that two employees of the shop, Prabhu Singh and Narayan Singh, allegedly used a duplicate key to unlock the safe and flee with the valuables. A case was registered at MHB Colony Police Station under the relevant sections of the law.
What seemed like an inside job soon turned into a multi-state chase.
Technical analysis traced the accused to Rajasthan, following which special teams were formed under senior officers to nab them. The trail led investigators to the dense forest regions of Rajsamand district.
The accused avoided staying in villages.
Whenever police reached the nearby areas, they escaped into the forests. Thick tree cover made visual tracking nearly impossible. They frequently changed hideouts between Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Sardargarh, and Pali districts.
For 48 days, officers camped day and night in the jungles, relying on human intelligence and advanced surveillance.
In a major technological push, police deployed thermal drones to scan forest zones where the accused were suspected to be hiding. Heat signatures helped narrow down search zones in areas where dense tree cover blocked normal visibility.
One key accused was traced to a temple located in the middle of the forest near Muwariya village in Rajsamand district. A carefully planned trap led to his arrest.
Further interrogation revealed the involvement of additional accomplices - including Ganpat Singh, Kishan Singh, Mod Singh, and others - all residents of Rajasthan. Police teams intensified raids across forest belts and rural hideouts.
"On March 1, 2026, a confidential tip-off from a special informant indicated that two accused had returned to the Kuwariya village area.
Police laid a trap along forest routes used by the suspects. Upon spotting the police, the accused attempted to flee into the jungle.
A high-speed chase followed through rugged forest terrain - and both were successfully apprehended, said an officer.
The police have so far recovered approximately 3 kg of gold ornaments worth Rs 4.5 crore and around 5 kg of silver ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh.
Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining stolen property.
Preliminary investigations suggest that at least one of the accused has a criminal background, and police are probing possible links to other organised theft cases across states.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of senior officers including the deputy Commissioner of Police and Zone 11, with dedicated teams MHB police station.
