Narmada district police in Gujarat have arrested five individuals for the theft of a .45-bore Colt pistol and eight signed blank cheques belonging to the erstwhile maharaja of Rajpipla, Raghubir Singh Gohil. The stolen pistol, valued at Rs 3 lakh, was recovered along with other items. The accused allegedly used the cheques to withdraw Rs 9 lakh illegally.
The case came to light when Manvendra Singh Gohil, son of the 82-year-old bedridden maharaja, reported the missing pistol after attempting to renew its license. The weapon had vanished from the storeroom of the Rajvant palace, prompting an investigation. Despite inquiries with family members and domestic staff, no one could account for the pistol.
Suspicions fell on the maharaja’s former caretaker, Sanjay Rajane, 38, from Ahmedabad, who abruptly left his duties without notice on January 4, 2025. Upon interrogation, Rajane named four accomplices, including the present caretaker, Meet Rawal, and three others—Arbaz Pathan, Rizwan Malek, and Farhan Rathod, all from Nandod in Narmada district.
The accused allegedly withdrew Rs 9 lakh using the stolen cheques and purchased two second-hand cars and a bike with the illicit funds. Police confirmed that the pistol and intact bullets were recovered before the accused could sell them for profit.
Y B Sirsath, police inspector in charge of the Narmada Local Crime Branch, stated the accused were apprehended before they could cash in on the stolen weapon.
