In a high-profile investigation, the Nagpur Crime Branch Unit 1 has solved a sensational house burglary in the Sadar area, arresting two habitual offenders and recovering stolen property worth Rs3.34 crore. Investigators revealed that the prime accused financed a lavish lifestyle through repeated thefts, splurging on premium gyms, air travel, branded goods, and luxury hotel stays.
The break-in occurred between 7:45 pm on January 19 and 3:00 am on January 20 at a residence in Shirke Layout, Raj Nagar under Sadar Police Station limits. The complainant, Baljinder Singh Inderjit Singh Nayar, had locked his home and travelled with family to Kalmeshwar for a function. Burglars entered by cutting the iron grill of a rear kitchen window.
From a locker in the complainant’s mother’s bedroom, the accused stole 247 tolas of gold ornaments, diamond jewellery sets, coins, necklaces, and bracelets. Additionally, Rs65 lakh in cash belonging to the complainant’s brother was stolen from another bedroom. The total initial loss was pegged at Rs2.91 crore. A case was registered at Sadar Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Technical analysis of CCTV footage, movement patterns, and criminal records led investigators to Rajnikant Keshav Chanore, a seasoned housebreaker. Chanore had rented a flat in Hudkeshwar but fled the city immediately after the crime. Police tracked him across multiple cities, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Pune. A trap laid in Bhosari, Pimpri-Chinchwad led to the arrest of Chanore and his associate, Pratap Gopal Urkude.
Searches recovered 1,228 grams of gold ornaments, 197 grams of diamond jewellery, silver items, Rs32.97 lakh in cash, burglary tools, gold-melting equipment, five mobile phones, an expensive wristwatch, and the Activa scooter used in the offence. The total seizure was valued at Rs3.34 crore.
Police said Chanore conducts detailed reconnaissance in upscale neighbourhoods, prefers rear entry points, and uses metallic moulds to melt stolen gold, erasing its identity. His criminal record spans 22 cases of housebreaking across Nagpur, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Bhilai, and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.
Both accused have been remanded to eight days of police custody. Further investigations are ongoing.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner Naved Chandra Reddy, Additional Commissioner Vasant Pardeshi, and others. The Crime Branch Unit 1 team comprised senior inspectors, PSI, API, head constables, constables, and Cyber Cell personnel who provided technical assistance.
