A major jewellery theft case in Raipur took a dramatic turn after the main accused allegedly died by suicide during the police investigation into a Rs 90 lakh robbery at a jewellery showroom in Shankar Nagar. Police said the accused reportedly hanged himself inside his residence after learning that his associate had been detained. The incident has drawn significant public attention due to the scale of the theft, the rapid police investigation, and the suspected suicide of the main accused shortly after the crime. Officials confirmed that a minor accused connected to the case has been taken into custody and jewellery worth nearly Rs 10 lakh has been recovered.

Theft at Jewellery Shop

According to police officials, the theft took place late Saturday night at Lakshya Jewellery Shop located in Raipur’s Shankar Nagar area. Two masked accused allegedly arrived on a motorcycle and entered the showroom after cutting the lock using a metal cutter. Investigators said the accused remained inside the showroom for nearly half an hour and specifically targeted gold jewellery. Silver ornaments and artificial jewellery reportedly remained untouched during the incident. Since the showroom remained closed on Sunday, the theft came to light only on Monday morning after the shop owner reopened the establishment.

CCTV Captures Accused

Police teams reached the spot soon after receiving information regarding the theft. CCTV footage collected from the showroom reportedly showed the accused calmly filling bags with jewellery before fleeing from the location. Senior officers from the North Zone police supervised the initial investigation while forensic teams examined the crime scene for evidence. Officials stated that the accused appeared familiar with the shop layout and had likely planned the operation in advance after conducting surveillance of the area.

Sniffer Dog Leads Investigation

During the investigation, police called forensic experts and dog squad teams to trace the suspects. Officials said the sniffer dog followed a trail from the jewellery shop to the Gandhi Nagar-Kali Nagar road area located nearly 1.5 kilometres away.

Based on this lead, police intensified searches in nearby localities and began scanning CCTV footage from several areas including Shankar Nagar, Abhanpur, and Chandkhuri. Authorities later reviewed more than 300 CCTV clips as part of the investigation to identify movement patterns and possible escape routes used by the accused.

Minor Accused Arrested

Police confirmed that one minor accused was detained from the Kali Nagar area within nearly 12 hours of the theft investigation. Officials stated that jewellery worth around Rs 10 lakh was recovered from his possession.

Investigators suspect that the accused were habitual offenders who had allegedly attempted thefts in other locations earlier as well. Police sources indicated that interrogation of the detained accused revealed details regarding planning of the robbery and movement after the crime.

Party in Gariaband Revealed

According to investigators, after carrying out the theft, both accused reportedly travelled to Panduka area in Gariaband district where they allegedly spent time partying before returning to Raipur late at night. Police believe the accused separated after news of the theft spread publicly on Monday morning. Sources stated that the main accused allegedly kept most of the stolen jewellery and planned to dispose of it separately. Investigators are currently tracing the remaining stolen ornaments and checking whether any receivers or middlemen were connected to the accused.

Main Accused Found Dead

Police said teams later reached the residence of the main accused during search operations. Officers reportedly found the house locked from outside initially, raising suspicion. After further inspection, police discovered that the accused had allegedly died by suicide inside the house. Investigators suspect he became frightened after learning that his associate had been caught by police.

Authorities stated that the accused lived with his sisters and did not have surviving parents. Family members, however, have denied his involvement in the robbery and claimed he was being falsely implicated in the case. Police have initiated proceedings related to the unnatural death and further investigation is underway.

Shop Was Under Surveillance

Investigators revealed that the accused had allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the jewellery showroom for nearly two days before carrying out the robbery. Police said the accused parked their motorcycle near a hospital and then walked towards the showroom during the night. After cutting the shutter lock, they reportedly entered the premises around 2:19 am and escaped within nearly 20 minutes carrying bags filled with jewellery. Officials believe the operation was carefully planned and executed with prior knowledge of shop routines.

Security Concerns Raised

The incident has once again raised concerns regarding security arrangements at jewellery establishments in urban areas. Police officials disclosed that the showroom owner had earlier been advised to strengthen security systems and install a central locking mechanism. Despite the advisory, the accused managed to execute the theft successfully. Authorities are now examining whether any additional lapses contributed to the incident. Police said efforts are continuing to recover the remaining stolen jewellery and identify possible links connected to the theft network.

The Raipur jewellery theft case remains under active investigation, with police continuing interrogation of the detained accused and examination of forensic evidence.

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