The Balrampur district police in Chhattisgarh have successfully arrested six suspects involved in a daring jewelry robbery that saw thieves make off with Rs 5 crore worth of jewelry and Rs 7 lakh in cash. The robbery was carried out by a Jharkhand-based gang, known as ‘Booking Soni’, who sold some of the stolen jewelry to a jeweler and melted the rest.
The incident unfolded on September 11, 2023, at Rajesh Jewelers, located at Ramanujganj Nagar Palika Chowk in Balrampur. At approximately 1:50 PM, three armed assailants stormed the jewelry shop, taking the jeweler Rajesh Soni, who also serves as a BJP councilor, along with two customers and employees as hostages. The robbers, after threatening their victims, collected the jewelry and cash and made a quick escape toward Jharkhand on motorcycles. The entire robbery lasted just 15 minutes.
The police quickly initiated a thorough investigation, using CCTV footage to track down the criminals. As a result, two key suspects were identified: Monu Soni, alias Raj Soni, from Chainpur, Jharkhand, and Rahul Kumar Mehta from Aurangabad. In an extensive operation, eight police teams raided multiple locations in Gadhwa, Aurangabad, Ranchi, and Daltonganj, leading to the arrest of Sonu and Monu Soni, as well as Anjali, who is Sonu’s girlfriend, and their uncle.
During a raid on Anjali’s residence, the police discovered and seized 3.354 kg of gold and 7.280 kg of silver, along with a Bolero vehicle, two racing motorcycles, two pistols, and Rs5.80 lakh in cash. It was revealed that after the robbery, the suspects divided the stolen loot at Barwadi Railway Station.
The Soni brothers are known to be involved in multiple robbery cases across Jharkhand. Authorities also reported that the main suspect, who had purchased the stolen jewelry, is still at large. The police are continuing their efforts to track down this key figure and other accomplices.
This swift arrest operation highlights the joint effort of the Balrampur police and Jharkhand law enforcement in tackling interstate crime, as they work to bring all individuals involved in this high-profile heist to justice.