In a major breakthrough, the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch arrested 21-year-old Mahendra Padmalal Modaji Harmore, also known as Meena, for allegedly stealing valuables worth Rs93.08 lakh from a residence in the Paldi area.
The theft took place on February 22 at Saritakunj Society, House No. 04, located on PT College Road, Paldi. Harmore, originally from Palsrada village in Salumbar district of Rajasthan, was employed as a janitor in the household. He reportedly accessed the house’s lockers using a key and password, stealing a large quantity of cash, gold jewellery, and other valuables.
A case was registered at Paldi police station under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Due to the high-value nature of the crime, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch launched a focused investigation using technical surveillance and human intelligence.
The operation led to Harmore’s arrest and the successful recovery of the stolen items, which included:
Rs3.76 lakh in cash
Five luxury watches worth Rs11.65 lakh
Gold jewellery valued at Rs77.67 lakh
A bag containing various personal items
Authorities confirmed that all stolen goods have been seized. The case is still under investigation, with police exploring whether the accused had any accomplices or prior criminal involvement.
In light of this case, the police have advised homeowners to thoroughly vet domestic workers and verify their backgrounds before hiring, as such trust-based roles can be vulnerable to serious breaches.
