Ahmedabad, June 26 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Police of Gujarat on Friday arrested an Indian Air Force corporal in connection with a jewellery shop robbery involving the use of a firearm that took place in the Khadia area nearly two years ago, recovering the weapon allegedly used in the crime after tracing it to a service revolver stolen during an unsolved house burglary in Jamnagar.

The breakthrough came in the investigation of an FIR registered at Khadia Police Station following the robbery at a jewellery shop in Dharmanandan ni Khadki near Fernandes Bridge on Gandhi Road on July 16, 2024.

According to police, at around 3 p.m., a masked man entered the shop carrying a pistol, threatened those present and made away with gold chains, gold rings, gold biscuits, a 10 kg silver slab, other jewellery and cash worth a total of Rs 1.51 crore.

Before fleeing, he allegedly shot the shop owner’s father in the leg. Separate teams from the Local Crime Branch (Zone 3), Khadia Police Station and the Zone 3 ‘E’ Division were formed to investigate the case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Rupal Solanki said, “Two years ago, a robbery case involving the use of a firearm was registered in the Khadia Police Station area. In the incident, a man arrived with his face covered. He waited outside for some time before entering the shop. Once inside, he shut the shutter and shot the businessman in the leg before carrying out a robbery. He looted valuables worth approximately Rs 1.51 crore and then fled the scene.”

During the investigation, police received information that a service revolver stolen in an unsolved house-breaking case in Jamnagar district had been used in the Khadia robbery.

Investigators analysed technical evidence, human intelligence and CCTV footage, which they said established a link between the two cases.

Police identified the suspect as Deepak Bhuker, 31, originally from Jhajjar district in Haryana.

Investigators said he was serving with the Air Force at its Jamnagar unit at the time of the offences and is currently posted as a corporal at the 7 Base Repair Depot in Tughlakabad, New Delhi.

A team led by PSI H.R. Chaudhary travelled to Delhi and, with assistance from Air Force authorities, detained the accused. During a search of his barracks, officers recovered the firearm allegedly used in the robbery along with five live cartridges.

The seized weapon is believed to be the same service revolver stolen in the Jamnagar burglary.

Speaking about the arrest, Solanki said: “Once our investigation confirmed that he was behind the robbery, we went to Delhi and sought assistance from Air Force police officers. With their help, we were able to apprehend him. We conducted a search of his quarters, during which we recovered the firearm used in the crime. This was the same gun that had been stolen earlier. We also recovered some jewellery items, although verification is still underway to determine whether they are made of gold, silver, or some other material.”

Police said the accused allegedly used fake Aadhaar cards and mobile phone numbers while staying at hotels to conceal his identity. He also wrapped bandages around his fingers to avoid leaving fingerprints at the crime scene.

After the robbery, investigators said he escaped by travelling in four different auto-rickshaws and changed his clothes while fleeing.

The arrest has also helped police detect the previously unsolved Jamnagar house-breaking case in which the service revolver was stolen.

The recovered property includes one pistol valued at Rs 50,000 and five live cartridges. Police said further investigation is underway, including verification of the jewellery recovered during the search.

The accused has previously been convicted in a cheque dishonour case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and has also been booked in a prohibition case registered in Jamnagar in 2020, according to police records.

–IANS

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