Gold and SUV seized from the youth and the jeweller
Investigators grew suspicious when Samar, despite having no known source of income, purchased a new SUV on Dasara after paying Rs 10 lakh. Police found that the jeweller had raised Rs 10 lakh by pledging the gold with a bank.
The case came to light after a complaint was filed by Umesh Maruti Chavan about a month ago, according to probationary sub-divisional police officer Shrikant Thikane. Police said he neither verified ownership documents for the jewellery nor informed authorities about the transaction, leading investigators to treat him as an accomplice in the crime. Police identified the arrested accused as Samar Popat Chavan and jeweller Sangram Babaso More of Satve village in Panhala taluka. A Panhala court remanded them to three days of police custody. The jeweller has also been booked as a co-accused.
Investigators also recovered additional jewellery allegedly hidden by Samar and traced around Rs 2.5 lakh transferred to his father’s account. “We have seized the gold jewellery and the vehicle, taking the total recovery to Rs 30.51 lakh.
Family members told us there had been complaints of petty thefts involving Samar since childhood, but those incidents were largely ignored. Being part of a joint family, he was aware of the jewellery his uncle possessed,” the officer said.