Surat, Gujarat – In a major case of insider theft, the Surat police arrested Khushbu Kansara, a saleswoman, and her husband Manoj Kansara for allegedly stealing diamond and gold jewellery worth over ₹2 crore from a reputed jewellery showroom in the city.
The theft occurred over several months at Surbhi Jewellers, located on Ghod Dod Road, and was discovered only in early September. Khushbu, who had been employed at the showroom since January 2024, gradually gained the trust of the owners, Surbhi Shah and Rakesh Shah, and was eventually put in charge of inventory.
According to Inspector J.A. Rathwa of Umra Police, Khushbu began siphoning off ornaments in small quantities and hiding them at her home. Meanwhile, her husband Manoj opened a new store named Shyam Jewellers in Bhatar in mid-2024, where the stolen items were allegedly displayed and sold to unsuspecting customers.
The fraud remained undetected until the Shahs went on a business trip to Jamshedpur. In their absence, another employee, Karina Singhvi, reviewed CCTV footage and noticed Khushbu suspiciously removing jewellery from the showroom.
Karina alerted Surbhi, who returned to Surat on September 8 and confronted the Kansaras. Though the couple initially denied wrongdoing, a stock audit revealed massive discrepancies. Later that day, Surbhi and Rakesh visited Shyam Jewellers and identified several pieces bearing their store’s original tags.
Realizing the scope of the betrayal, the Shahs filed a complaint with Umra Police, leading to the arrest of both accused under Section 306(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with theft by a servant or clerk.
Inspector Rathwa confirmed that part of the stolen jewellery has been recovered. “Some ornaments were already sold, while others were hidden. Further investigation is ongoing, and police remand will be sought,” he added.
The case has shocked the local business community and highlighted the risks of insider crimes in the retail sector.
