Ahmedabad police recover ₹80 lakh stolen jewellery, arrest two in Angadia heist
Synopsis
A planned inside job at an Ahmedabad Angadia firm saw an employee abscond with ₹80.56 lakh in gold, silver, and diamonds — only for police to recover nearly all of it within two weeks. Two men were arrested near Manek Chowk, but the alleged mastermind and the employee who carried out the theft remain on the run.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad police arrested two men on 21 May and recovered stolen valuables worth ₹80,00,696 .
The theft targeted H.
Pravin Kumar & Co. , an Angadia firm in Kalupur ; employee Jigarsinh Vihol allegedly absconded with the consignment on 6 May .
Seized items included 59 silver bars (28.993 kg, worth ₹73.93 lakh), gold jewellery, diamond rings, copper coins, and two mobile phones.
Arrested accused: Ajayji Thakor , 24, of Mehsana district, and Dipak Rawal , 34, of Ahmedabad.
Alleged mastermind Vipul Thakor and absconding employee Vihol remain at large; a manhunt is ongoing.
Ahmedabad police have arrested two men and recovered stolen jewellery, silver bars, and valuables collectively worth ₹80,00,696 in connection with the theft of an Angadia consignment from a firm in the Kalupur area of the city, officials confirmed on Thursday, 21 May. The alleged mastermind and the employee who absconded with the parcel remain at large.
How the Theft Unfolded
The case centres on H. Pravin Kumar & Co., an Angadia firm operating out of Nagar Sheth Market in the Ratanpol area of Kalupur. According to police, firm employee Jigarsinh Vihol left the office on the night of 6 May carrying consignments containing gold jewellery, silver bars, and diamonds valued at ₹80.56 lakh, ostensibly for delivery to Bhuj.
Vihol boarded a private travel service from Paldi at around 9.30 pm but never reached his destination. A complaint was registered at Kalupur Police Station on 11 May under Section 316(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, after his disappearance with the consignment came to light.
The Investigation and Arrests
The case was transferred to the Zone-3 Local Crime Branch (LCB), which launched surveillance and intelligence operations under senior city police officials. PSI V.H. Rathod and the LCB team received a tip-off that part of the stolen property was to be offloaded in the Manek Chowk area. Acting on this intelligence, police set a trap and intercepted two suspects near Khadia Golwad on 21 May.
The arrested men were identified as Ajayji Thakor, 24, a resident of Chhapawada village in Becharaji taluka of Mehsana district, and Dipak Rawal, 34, a resident of Sunvala on Katosan Road in Ahmedabad.
What Was Recovered
The seized property included 59 silver bars weighing 28.993 kilograms worth ₹73.93 lakh, two gold bracelets, two gold diamond rings, a gold ring, copper coins, colour stones, and two mobile phones. The total recovered value was assessed at ₹80,00,696.
The Alleged Mastermind
ACP Jitendra Chaudhari told reporters that investigations revealed Vihol allegedly met Ajayji Thakor in Surendranagar after departing Ahmedabad. 'Ajay and Jigar both went to Dipak's house and handed over the entire stolen property to Dipak, after which Jigar left from there. Dipak and Ajay were then responsible for selling the entire stolen property,' Chaudhari said.
Police further alleged that a third accused, Vipul Thakor, had masterminded the operation. 'This Vipul Thakor is the mastermind of the entire theft offence. As per his planning, Jigar was employed at the Angadia firm one week earlier, and according to his planning and instructions, Jigar absconded with the entire consignment after leaving here,' the ACP said. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest both Vihol and Vipul Thakor.
This case highlights the vulnerability of Angadia courier networks — informal financial conduits widely used across Gujarat for transporting high-value goods — to insider-facilitated theft. Authorities are expected to intensify the search for the two remaining accused in the coming days.
Point of View
Which move billions of rupees in valuables across Gujarat with minimal formal oversight, remain attractive targets for insider-facilitated theft. The alleged recruitment of Vihol just one week before the heist points to a pre-meditated, coordinated operation, not an opportunistic grab. Until Vipul Thakor and Vihol are in custody, the full chain of the conspiracy remains unverified.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen in the Ahmedabad Angadia firm theft?
Employee Jigarsinh Vihol allegedly absconded on 6 May with an Angadia consignment from H. Pravin Kumar & Co. in Kalupur containing gold jewellery, silver bars, and diamonds valued at ₹80.56 lakh, which was meant for delivery to Bhuj.
Who has been arrested in the Ahmedabad jewellery theft case?
Ahmedabad police arrested Ajayji Thakor, 24, of Chhapawada village in Mehsana district, and Dipak Rawal, 34, of Sunvala in Ahmedabad, near Khadia Golwad on 21 May. The alleged mastermind Vipul Thakor and absconding employee Jigarsinh Vihol remain at large.
How much of the stolen property was recovered?
Police recovered valuables worth ₹80,00,696, including 59 silver bars weighing 28.993 kg (worth ₹73.93 lakh), two gold bracelets, two gold diamond rings, a gold ring, copper coins, colour stones, and two mobile phones.
Who is the alleged mastermind behind the Angadia heist?
According to ACP Jitendra Chaudhari, Vipul Thakor allegedly planned the entire operation, including arranging for Jigarsinh Vihol to be employed at the firm one week before the theft. Vipul Thakor is currently absconding.
Under which law was the case registered?
A complaint was filed at Kalupur Police Station on 11 May under Section 316(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The investigation was subsequently handed to the Zone-3 Local Crime Branch.
