In a swift joint operation, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and Local Crime Branch (LCB) cracked a high-profile theft case involving Rs35.45 lakh worth of diamond and gold jewelry along with cash aboard the Indore–Daund Express (Train No. 22944).
The crime occurred in Coach A-2 on the night of June 20 when a 73-year-old woman from Indore, traveling to Lonavala, found her handbag missing the next morning. The bag contained valuable items including a diamond necklace and bracelet, a gold chain, rings, a watch, and Rs50,000 in cash. Despite keeping the bag close while sleeping, it was stolen during the journey.
The victim promptly reported the theft by dialing the Railway Helpline 139, leading to an FIR being registered with the GRP at Lonavala station. Police teams immediately launched investigations along the train’s route covering stations like Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Surat, Vasai Road, and Kalyan.
CCTV footage at Kalyan station revealed a suspect who was later identified as Mahesh Arun Ghag alias Vicky, a Mumbai resident from Chembur.
A subsequent raid at Ghag’s residence resulted in the recovery of the entire stolen haul, which was returned to the victim’s family. Authorities lauded the seamless coordination between railway and police forces, emphasizing their dedication to passenger safety and swift crime resolution.
