Ahmedabad airport gold theft: 8 arrested, ₹1.72 crore recovered
Synopsis
An alleged inside job at Ahmedabad's international airport saw a ₹2.58 crore gold jewellery consignment diverted mid-transit to Bengaluru — with airline staff, a planted passenger, and an inter-state network of jewellers all implicated. Eight are now in custody, four remain at large, and ₹1.72 crore has been recovered, but the full distribution chain is still being unravelled.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Police arrested eight people in a case involving the theft of a gold consignment worth ₹2.58 crore from SVPIA Cargo Terminal .
The parcel — containing gold ornaments weighing 2.107 kg and 562 milligrams — was received at Ahmedabad on 18 April but never delivered in Bengaluru.
Investigators allege airline insider Roshankumar Patel and security in-charge Zaid Hasan Ansari were among the planners; Jayesh Parmar remains absconding.
Stolen gold was allegedly melted into rods and bars and sold through jewellers in Gujarat and Maharashtra .
Police recovered ₹69,24,800 in cash and gold/silver articles worth ₹1,02,80,000 — total recovery: ₹1,72,04,800 .
Four accused — Rizwan Majidbhai , Farooq Sama , Yogesh Patil , and Jayesh Parmar — remain at large.
Ahmedabad Police have arrested eight people and recovered property worth ₹1.72 crore in connection with the alleged diversion and theft of a gold jewellery consignment valued at ₹2.58 crore, which went missing while being transported by air cargo from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru in April 2025. The arrests follow a complaint lodged at the Airport Police Station Part-A by Balvirsinh Rathod, 37, of Sequel Logistic Company.
How the Theft Was Carried Out
According to officials, the consignment comprised seven parcels of gold ornaments from a jeweller, handed over at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) Cargo Terminal on 18 April for delivery to a company in Bengaluru. One parcel — weighing approximately 13 kg and containing gold ornaments of 2.107 kg and 562 milligrams, valued at ₹2,58,10,764 — was received by the airline at Ahmedabad but never delivered at the destination, raising suspicion of criminal breach of trust.
Investigators allege the operation was an inside job involving airline personnel, cargo handlers, and outside accomplices. Roshankumar Patel, identified as a cleaning in-charge with the airline, Zaid Hasan Ansari, a security in-charge, and Jayesh Parmar allegedly planned the theft. Parmar remains absconding.
The Modus Operandi
Officials allege the group arranged for Salemohmmad alias Salam to travel as a passenger on the Bengaluru-bound flight. He was reportedly provided with a bag and a mobile phone; gold ornaments were allegedly transferred into the bag by Parmar after boarding. Salemohmmad is stated to have collected the bag at Bengaluru Airport and returned to Ahmedabad, where it was handed over to other members of the group.
The stolen ornaments were subsequently melted and converted into gold rods and bars, which were allegedly sold through intermediaries and jewellers operating across Gujarat and Maharashtra. Proceeds were allegedly distributed among the group's members.
Who Has Been Arrested
The eight arrested accused are: Salemohmmad alias Salam Mohmmad Amin Ansari of Junagadh; Kadlipbhai alias Bapu alias Bapa Patel of Ahmedabad; Roshankumar Patel of Navsari district; Zaid Hasan Ansari of Junagadh; Sultan Sama of Junagadh; Ravikant Bagia of Junagadh; Kiran Pawar of Sangli, Maharashtra; and Shankar Vakse of Sangli, Maharashtra. Four additional accused — Rizwan Majidbhai, Farooq Sama, Yogesh Patil, and Jayesh Parmar — remain absconding.
What Was Recovered
The operation yielded ₹69,24,800 in cash, along with gold and silver articles including rods, bars, and a silver biscuit valued at ₹1,02,80,000, bringing total recovered property to ₹1,72,04,800. The case has been registered under Sections 316(2), 316(4), 61(2), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Investigation Status
The probe was conducted under the supervision of senior officers, who deployed CCTV footage analysis alongside technical and human intelligence to identify and trace the accused. The investigation is ongoing, with police working to apprehend the four absconding accused and map the full distribution chain of the stolen consignment. This case underscores the vulnerability of high-value air cargo to insider collusion — a concern that airport security agencies are likely to revisit.
Point of View
The breach is not at the perimeter but at the core of the cargo handling chain. The fact that stolen gold was swiftly melted and dispersed across two states suggests a pre-existing network, not an opportunistic one. Airport cargo security protocols in India have long been flagged as under-resourced relative to passenger screening; this case may force a harder look at employee vetting and real-time parcel tracking for high-value consignments.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ahmedabad airport gold theft case?
A gold jewellery consignment worth ₹2.58 crore, being transported by air cargo from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru on 18 April, was allegedly diverted and stolen at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Cargo Terminal. Eight people have been arrested and property worth ₹1.72 crore has been recovered.
How was the gold allegedly stolen from the airport cargo?
According to police, airline insider Roshankumar Patel and security in-charge Zaid Hasan Ansari allegedly planned the theft with outside accomplices. A passenger, Salemohmmad alias Salam, was reportedly placed on the Bengaluru-bound flight; gold ornaments were allegedly transferred into his bag mid-transit, and he collected the bag at Bengaluru Airport before returning to Ahmedabad.
Who are the arrested accused in the Ahmedabad airport gold theft?
The eight arrested are Salemohmmad alias Salam Mohmmad Amin Ansari, Kadlipbhai alias Bapu Patel, Roshankumar Patel, Zaid Hasan Ansari, Sultan Sama, Ravikant Bagia (all from Gujarat), and Kiran Pawar and Shankar Vakse from Sangli, Maharashtra. Four others — Rizwan Majidbhai, Farooq Sama, Yogesh Patil, and Jayesh Parmar — remain absconding.
How much property was recovered by Ahmedabad Police in this case?
Police recovered ₹69,24,800 in cash and gold and silver articles — including rods, bars, and a silver biscuit — valued at ₹1,02,80,000, bringing total recovered property to ₹1,72,04,800.
What charges have been filed in the Ahmedabad airport gold theft case?
The case was registered at Airport Police Station Part-A under Sections 316(2), 316(4), 61(2), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, following a complaint by Balvirsinh Rathod of Sequel Logistic Company. The investigation is ongoing to trace the remaining accused and establish the full distribution chain.
