Nearly a month after two men were robbed of 600 grams of gold worth about ₹64 lakh near Ahmedabad airport by people posing as police officers, the Airport Police have arrested three accused and identified a serving policeman as the alleged mastermind behind the crime.
The case, initially believed to be the work of a gang impersonating police personnel, took a major turn after CCTV footage and technical surveillance pointed to the involvement of serving police personnel.
Gold robbed after airport pickup
The robbery took place on June 27, when two relatives of a trader from Uttar Pradesh collected a consignment of 600 grams of gold from a contact near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
According to the complaint, soon after collecting the gold, the duo was stopped by people claiming to be police officers. The accused allegedly forced them into a vehicle, assaulted them, robbed them of the gold and later abandoned them near Apollo Circle. A woman is also suspected to have been part of the gang.
CCTV footage cracks the case
Investigators examined CCTV footage from the airport and nearby roads, which helped identify the suspects. The footage, along with witness statements and technical evidence, led police to two serving policemen attached to the police escort unit.
Further investigation resulted in the arrest of three accused. Police have also named a serving policeman as the alleged mastermind behind the robbery. Efforts are underway to trace the remaining suspects and recover the stolen gold.
Probe into larger conspiracy
Police are investigating whether more people were involved in planning and carrying out the robbery. Officials are also tracking the movement of the stolen gold and examining the role of each accused.
The alleged involvement of serving police personnel in a robbery carried out by impersonating law enforcement has raised serious concerns. Further investigation is underway.