A 70-year-old retired teacher, Mansukh Manavadariya, has filed a police complaint in Junagadh accusing a woman, Salma Sama, of stealing 20 tolas of gold jewellery worth approximately Rs8.35 lakh from his home.
The complaint was registered at the Junagadh City B Division police station. According to Manavadariya, the gold belonged to his younger daughter, Sheetal, who had visited the city on November 30, 2024, to attend a wedding. Before leaving, she locked her gold ornaments in a cupboard at her father’s home, instructing him to deposit them in a bank locker.
Manavadariya admitted he forgot to deposit the jewellery. On April 2, 2025, he checked the cupboard and confirmed the gold was still there. However, on April 8, after a reminder call from Sheetal, he discovered the jewellery was missing.
He stated that two women had routine access to the house:
Hasu Jethva, who came daily for waste disposal.
Salma Sama, a resident of Dhoraji, who had been visiting monthly for cleaning over the past two months.
Based on the timeline and access, Salma Sama is suspected to have stolen the jewellery. Police have registered a case and begun investigations into the theft.
Authorities are expected to question both women and review any possible surveillance footage or witness statements in the coming days.
