In a major breakthrough in the Raniganj jewellery shop robbery case, the police arrested another accused, Sashikant Mali, on Saturday. Mali, a resident of Andal, was apprehended for his role as a “tipper” for the robbers involved in the heist. On Sunday, he was presented before the Asansol Court and was remanded to police custody for 12 days.
The robbery, which took place on June 9 at a retail jewellery chain in Raniganj, was masterminded by Sonu Singh, a resident of Malitola in Ramgarh, Bihar. Singh, a childhood friend of Mali, allegedly orchestrated the heist. Sashikant, who had moved to Andal for professional reasons, reportedly assisted his childhood friend by providing shelter to Singh and the other robbers before the crime. He introduced the gang members as his relatives from Bihar, a tactic that helped them evade suspicion during their stay.
The police were tipped off about Sashikant’s involvement during their investigation into the robbery. On Saturday, authorities apprehended him from his residence in Andal. Mali’s arrest follows the earlier arrests of two robbers, Suraj Kumar Singh and Sonu Singh, as well as Nagendra Yadav, who were nabbed by the Asansol Durgapur Police with assistance from the Jharkhand Police.
The robbery was foiled in part due to the sharp observation of Sub Inspector Meghnad Mondal, who was in the area for personal reasons when he suspected suspicious activity at the jewellery store. While waiting for the robbers to emerge, he fired his service revolver, injuring one of the robbers. The police later tracked down the culprits, leading to the arrests.
Investigations are still ongoing as authorities work to apprehend the remaining members of the gang and piece together the full extent of the crime. Police are also exploring the possibility of the robbers’ involvement in other similar incidents in the region.