Lede: Nagpur Tehsil Police have dismantled an inter-district employee gang that stole bullion from a Sudam Galli jewellery workshop — 105.3 grams of gold recovered, valued at about ₹11.5 lakh, and four arrests. The case underscores a growing operational risk for jewellery retailers who keep finished metal on site.
- Price: ≈ ₹11.5 lakh (recovered valuables)
- Weight: 105.3 grams (pieces and granules)
- Origin: Sudam Galli, New Itwari Road, Nagpur; suspects traced across Maharashtra
- Key dates: Theft 4 Apr 2025; final arrest recorded 6 Dec 2025
Investigation and Forensics
Police say the theft occurred on April 4, 2025, when an employee, identified as Sachin Salukhe (aka Vaibhav Bhausaheb Malgave), diverted the proprietor’s attention and removed a 200‑gram gold piece from a steel bowl stored under the counter. Surveillance footage and technical analysis traced Salukhe to Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, where officers recovered 55 grams.
Interrogation linked Salukhe to three accomplices — Jagannath Prakash Javir, Prashant Nanasaheb Mulik and the wanted Chetan Prakash Javir. From Mulik the team seized gold granules weighing 50.3 grams; police later recovered a 37.03‑gram ingot from Chetan Javir after mobile‑location tracking. The combined haul totalled 105.3 grams, described by investigators as a mix of granules and solid ingot with the metal’s characteristic vitreous luster and substantial heft.
The case was pursued under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Senior investigators credited CCTV analysis, mobile forensics and targeted local traps for the arrests. The operation was led by Police Commissioner Ravinderkumar Singal and executed by a multi‑agency team from Tehsil Police Station.
Context: 2025 Industry Risks
Two 2025 trends converge here. First, as design direction shifts toward more in‑house fabrication and sculptural aesthetics, retailers and workshops are retaining greater quantities of raw metal and finished stock on site — increasing exposure to internal theft. Second, heightened consumer demand for provenance and sustainability has pushed traceability into the foreground; incidents like this complicate provenance claims and can raise underwriting costs.
Simultaneously, jewellery retailers are balancing these risks against changing product mixes — a rise in lab‑grown gemstones and alternative offerings reduces the need to hold large amounts of bullion, but does not eliminate vulnerability where gold remains integral to production.
Why This Matters to US Retailers and Investors
For US retailers and investors, the Nagpur case is a practical reminder that physical‑inventory risk persists even in an increasingly digital market. Key takeaways:
- Operational controls: stronger staff vetting, staggered access to vaults, and segregation of duties reduce the chance of internal collusion.
- Technology upgrade: high‑definition CCTV, tamper‑proof storage, and mobile‑signal analytics provide faster attribution and recovery.
- Insurance and cost: insured values and premiums can rise after cluster thefts; transparent chain‑of‑custody documentation mitigates claims disputes.
- Product strategy: shifting a portion of inventory toward traceable or lab‑sourced materials can lower on‑site bullion exposure without compromising sculptural design goals.
Operational Actions
Practical steps for US operators include instituting biometric access, rotating staff assignments, adopting encrypted inventory ledgers, and contracting off‑site vaulting for high‑value metal. For investors, due diligence should extend beyond balance sheets to include store‑level security protocols and provenance systems.
Status and Credits
Further investigation is ongoing. So far four accused are in custody and recovered metal has been catalogued at approximately ₹11.5 lakh. The operation lists leadership and officers including Police Commissioner Ravinderkumar Singal, Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP Rajendra Dabhade, DCP Rahul Madne, ACP Anita More and the investigative team from Tehsil Police Station.
Image Referance: https://www.nagpurtoday.in/jewellery-shop-theft-cracked-nagpur-cops-bust-inter-state-gang/12131513