Ahmedabad Police bust Instagram cleaning scam; ₹18.90 lakh gold seized
Synopsis
Two men from Rajasthan's Salumber district allegedly used Instagram to pose as home cleaners, then stole gold jewellery worth ₹18.90 lakh from customers' homes in Ahmedabad. It is the second such social-media-enabled cleaning scam busted in the city in quick succession — pointing to a replicable criminal template that is outpacing public awareness.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad City Police arrested Arjun Devaji Kir, 23 , and Nanu Shankar Kir, 22 — both originally from Salumber district, Rajasthan — on 4 August .
The accused allegedly advertised home-cleaning services on Instagram and stole jewellery during visits.
Recovered gold ornaments weigh more than 154 grams and are valued at approximately ₹18.90 lakh .
The arrests led to detection of a previously unregistered theft case at Bopal Police Station , Ahmedabad Rural.
A separate Ahmedabad cleaning-scam case recovered valuables worth ₹2.88 lakh , indicating a broader pattern of social-media-enabled deception crimes in the city.
Ahmedabad City Police on 4 August arrested two men accused of running a fraudulent home-cleaning racket on Instagram, recovering stolen gold ornaments valued at approximately ₹18.90 lakh. The arrests also led to the detection of a previously unregistered theft case at Bopal Police Station in Ahmedabad Rural.
How the Racket Operated
According to police, the accused allegedly promoted a cleaning company through Instagram advertisements, booking appointments at residential homes under the pretence of providing domestic cleaning services. Investigators said the duo then stole jewellery and valuables from customers during these visits — a method that allowed them to operate without immediate suspicion.
The arrests were carried out by a Vadaj Police patrol team acting on specific intelligence, under directions from the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner and senior officers of Sector-1, Zone-1, and B Division. Police Sub-Inspector H.V. Gohil and his team apprehended the suspects and linked them to an undetected case registered under Sections 306 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Who Was Arrested
The accused have been identified as Arjun Devaji Kir, 23, residing in the Memnagar area of Ahmedabad, and Nanu Shankar Kir, 22, residing in Vastrapur. 'Both are originally from Kir Basti in Rajasthan's Salumber district and were employed in cleaning work,' police said.
What Was Recovered
Police recovered a haul of gold ornaments weighing more than 154 grams in total. The seized items include a gold chain, two gold bracelets, a mangalsutra, a necklace, four gold rings, and a gold nose ring — collectively valued at approximately ₹18.90 lakh, according to the police inventory.
A Wider Pattern of Deceptive Identity Crimes
This case is not an isolated incident. In a separate, recently reported matter, Vadaj Police arrested another group accused of similarly posing as home cleaners through social media advertisements, with stolen valuables worth approximately ₹2.88 lakh recovered and theft cases at Sola and Vivekanandnagar police stations detected. Investigators have also probed cases involving individuals impersonating police officers to rob Ahmedabad residents. Notably, this marks at least the second such social-media-enabled cleaning scam busted in the city in quick succession, pointing to an organised pattern rather than opportunistic crime.
With both accused in custody, police are expected to probe whether additional victims or undetected cases are linked to the same network.
Point of View
High-yield model that is easily replicable, and the relatively small team sizes suggest these cells can multiply without attracting early law-enforcement attention. What is missing from the police response so far is any indication of coordination with Meta to trace the Instagram accounts used, which would be the logical next step to map the full network and prevent replication in other cities.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the accused carry out the Instagram cleaning scam in Ahmedabad?
The accused allegedly created a cleaning company profile on Instagram and used it to book appointments at residential homes. Once inside under the guise of providing cleaning services, they reportedly stole gold jewellery and other valuables from customers.
Who were the two men arrested by Ahmedabad Police?
The arrested individuals are Arjun Devaji Kir, 23, and Nanu Shankar Kir, 22, both originally from Kir Basti in Rajasthan's Salumber district. At the time of arrest, they were residing in the Memnagar and Vastrapur areas of Ahmedabad respectively.
What gold items were recovered and what is their value?
Police recovered a gold chain, two gold bracelets, a mangalsutra, a necklace, four gold rings, and a gold nose ring — totalling more than 154 grams and valued at approximately ₹18.90 lakh, according to the police inventory.
Is this the first such case of a social media cleaning scam in Ahmedabad?
No. In a separate recently reported case, Vadaj Police arrested another group accused of posing as home cleaners through social media advertisements, recovering valuables worth approximately ₹2.88 lakh and detecting theft cases at Sola and Vivekanandnagar police stations. This is at least the second such racket busted in the city in quick succession.
Under which legal sections were the accused charged?
The accused were linked to a case registered under Sections 306 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at Bopal Police Station in Ahmedabad Rural.
