In a swift and efficient operation, the TT Nagar police apprehended seven suspects involved in plotting a major robbery targeting Modi Jewellers in Panchsheel Nagar. The arrests, made on March 30, came just 24 hours after the police received credible intelligence about the planned heist.
The police team, led by Inspector Sudhir Arjaria, raided the area behind Platinum Plaza, near a water tank, where the suspects were conspiring. The operation unfolded as the city was gearing up for the upcoming Eid and Navratri festivals, prompting heightened security measures under the directives of Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra and Additional Police Commissioner Awadhesh Goswami.
According to police reports, the suspects were planning the robbery to gather funds for securing anticipatory bail and fleeing Bhopal to avoid arrest in an ongoing attempted murder case. Acting on a tip-off, officers reached the scene and overheard the suspects discussing their plan to rob Modi Jewellers, anticipating a large haul of gold, silver, and cash due to the festive season.
When the police moved in, the suspects attempted to flee, resulting in minor injuries as they fell during the chase. However, they were quickly surrounded and detained with the help of additional officers. The police seized several weapons and tools from the scene, including an iron rod, an iron pipe, a knife, three daggers, a sword, a stick, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone, collectively valued at around Rs 1,25,000.
The arrested suspects, who have a history of criminal activity, had been involved in several violent incidents leading up to the robbery plot. On March 29, two of the suspects, Umesh Chouhan and Anand Chouhan, had snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian in a hit-and-run theft. Later that same night, the group, including Aditya Chouhan, Monu Chouhan, and Sawan Thakur, brutally attacked Kapil Yadav in Arjun Nagar over an old rivalry, leaving him severely injured. Yadav remains hospitalized.
The suspects arrested include Santosh alias Kalu Lodhe (25), a habitual offender with over two dozen prior cases; Umesh Chouhan (22) with eight criminal cases; Shani Chouhan (19) with three cases; Aditya alias Aadi Chouhan (20), Anand Chouhan (20), Monu Chouhan (20), and Sawan Thakur (19), all with prior criminal records.
The group’s plan was to exploit the festive period, believing that Modi Jewellers would have a large stockpile of valuables, making it an ideal target for their robbery. However, thanks to the timely intervention by the TT Nagar police, the planned heist was thwarted, ensuring the safety of both the targeted jewellers and the community.
The seized weapons and motorcycle clearly indicated that the gang was fully prepared to carry out the robbery. The successful police operation has prevented what could have been a dangerous and costly crime.
