Subodh Singh gang: 3 arrested in Karimnagar jewellery heist
Synopsis
A gang leader allegedly hatched a bold jewellery heist from inside a Bihar jail and it nearly worked. Three members of the notorious Subodh Singh gang are now in custody after the brazen daylight robbery at Karimnagar's PMJ jewellery shop, which left four employees shot and stripped the store of 161 tolas of gold and 112-carat diamonds. Ten accused remain at large.
Key Takeaways
Telangana police arrested three members of the Subodh Singh gang on 14 May in connection with the 3 May robbery at PMJ jewellery shop, Karimnagar .
The robbers looted 161 tolas of gold jewellery and 112-carat diamonds , injuring four employees with gunfire.
Mastermind Subodh Singh allegedly planned the heist from inside Purnea jail, Bihar .
Key accused Raghunath Karmakar from Asansol, West Bengal led the on-ground team; Ravish Kumar and Mehtab Khan were arrested in Bengal and Bihar.
A total of 13 accused have been identified; a multi-state hunt is underway for the remaining 10 .
Police seized Rs 51,000 cash , two mobile phones, two SIM cards, and fake Aadhaar cards from the arrested accused.
Telangana police have arrested three members of the inter-state Subodh Singh gang in connection with the daylight robbery at a jewellery shop in Karimnagar on 3 May, Karimnagar Police Commissioner Gaush Alam announced at a press conference on Thursday, 14 May. The gang had looted 161 tolas of gold jewellery and 112-carat diamonds from the PMJ jewellery shop, injuring four employees in the process.
The Robbery and Its Scale
The gang stormed the PMJ jewellery shop in Karimnagar town in broad daylight, opening fire and wounding four employees with bullet injuries before fleeing with the stolen valuables. According to police, a team of five robbers directly executed the heist, while eight others provided logistical and support roles, bringing the total number of accused to 13.
Commissioner Alam confirmed this was the first such robbery committed by this gang in Telangana, marking a significant geographic expansion of the outfit's operations.
Key Accused and Arrests
The prime accused, Subodh Singh, is currently lodged in Purnea jail in Bihar and allegedly masterminded the robbery from behind bars. Police said Singh operates primarily from Bihar and has a history of orchestrating crimes across multiple states.
The three arrested individuals are Raghunath Karmakar, a native of Asansol, West Bengal, who reportedly led the on-ground team; and Ravish Kumar and Mehtab Khan, arrested in West Bengal and Bihar respectively. Karmakar and one other are identified as shooters; the third assisted the operation. Police seized Rs 51,000 in cash, two mobile phones, two SIM cards, and fake Aadhaar cards from the accused.
How the Gang Operated
Investigation revealed that the accused had conducted a recce of the targeted shop two months prior to the robbery. They had surveyed multiple locations including Khammam, Mancherial, Peddapalli, and Jagtial before zeroing in on Karimnagar. After the heist, the robbers fled on motorcycles to Dharmapuri, then split into three groups and escaped via train and bus.
The Subodh Singh gang is reportedly known for its professional and sophisticated approach to robberies, with prior operations spanning Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand.
What Happens Next
Commissioner Alam declined to reveal the identities of the remaining accused, citing the risk of jeopardising the ongoing investigation. He confirmed that police teams are conducting a hot pursuit across multiple states to apprehend the remaining suspects. Authorities also plan to approach the concerned court seeking permission to interrogate Subodh Singh directly at Purnea jail.
"It's very difficult to catch the members of this gang, but with hard work, our teams were able to catch some of them," Commissioner Alam said.
Point of View
Historically less targeted by outfits based in Bihar and Jharkhand. That the alleged mastermind directed operations from inside a jail underscores a chronic failure of prison communication controls. Telangana police deserve credit for the cross-state arrests, but with ten accused still at large and the kingpin untouched behind bars, the case is far from resolved. The court's decision on whether to allow interrogation of Subodh Singh in Purnea jail may prove pivotal to dismantling the network.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Karimnagar jewellery shop robbery?
Armed members of the Subodh Singh gang raided the PMJ jewellery shop in Karimnagar on 3 May, opened fire injuring four employees, and fled with 161 tolas of gold jewellery and 112-carat diamonds. Five robbers executed the heist while eight others provided logistical support.
Who is Subodh Singh and where is he now?
Subodh Singh is the alleged mastermind of the gang, currently lodged in Purnea jail in Bihar. According to police, he allegedly planned the Karimnagar robbery from inside jail and has a history of orchestrating robberies across Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand.
Who has been arrested in connection with the Karimnagar robbery?
Three accused have been arrested: Raghunath Karmakar from Asansol, West Bengal, who led the on-ground team, and Ravish Kumar and Mehtab Khan, arrested in West Bengal and Bihar respectively. Two of the three are identified as shooters who directly participated in the heist.
How many accused are still at large?
Of the 13 accused identified so far, 10 remain at large. Telangana police are conducting a multi-state hunt and have declined to reveal the identities of the remaining suspects to protect the investigation.
What is the significance of this robbery for Telangana?
According to Karimnagar Police Commissioner Gaush Alam, this was the first time the Subodh Singh gang committed a robbery in Telangana, marking a significant expansion of the gang's operational territory into southern India.
