Ramgarh jewellery heist: Mastermind's wife, son-in-law held; 134 pieces unearthed
Synopsis
Three weeks after a brazen daylight heist at a Ramgarh jewellery shop, the SIT has unearthed 134 looted pieces buried underground at the mastermind's wife's home — and arrested two more family members. The alleged kingpin Subhani Ansari alias Lalka is still at large, and police believe a wider network helped hide the stolen goods.
Key Takeaways
Nazma Khatun, 40 , and her son-in-law Shehnawaz Hussain, 24 — relatives of alleged mastermind Subhani Ansari alias Lalka — were arrested on 11 May 2025 .
134 pieces of jewellery , including gold-like and silver ornaments weighing approximately 1,399 grams in total, were recovered buried underground at Nazma Khatun's residence.
The robbery took place on 21 April at Shiv Shankar Jewellers near Chitarpur Rajrappa More, Ramgarh, Jharkhand .
Seven accused were arrested on 24 April and sent to judicial custody; weapons and ornaments were also previously recovered.
The alleged mastermind and other absconding accused remain at large; raids are ongoing at multiple locations.
In a significant breakthrough in the Ramgarh jewellery robbery case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Jharkhand has arrested the wife and son-in-law of the alleged mastermind and recovered 134 pieces of looted jewellery buried underground at the accused's residence, police officials confirmed on Monday, 11 May.
Key Arrests and Recovery
The arrested individuals have been identified as Nazma Khatun, 40, wife of the alleged mastermind Subhani Ansari alias Lalka, and her son-in-law Shehnawaz Hussain, 24. Acting on a specific tip-off received on 10 May, the SIT intensified surveillance and interrogation of relatives and close associates of the alleged robbery kingpin before moving in for the arrests.
Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said that during questioning, it emerged that a portion of the looted jewellery had been concealed underground at Nazma Khatun's residence.
Point of View
And whether local networks with foreknowledge of the shop's inventory were involved. The mastermind's continued evasion despite two rounds of arrests warrants scrutiny.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ramgarh jewellery robbery case?
Armed criminals allegedly robbed Shiv Shankar Jewellers near Chitarpur Rajrappa More in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, in broad daylight on 21 April 2025. The SIT has since arrested nine accused and recovered 134 pieces of looted jewellery buried underground at the mastermind's wife's residence.
Who were arrested in the latest development?
Nazma Khatun, 40, wife of alleged mastermind Subhani Ansari alias Lalka, and her son-in-law Shehnawaz Hussain, 24, were arrested by the SIT on 11 May 2025 following a tip-off received on 10 May.
What jewellery was recovered and where was it hidden?
A total of 134 pieces — including a gold-like necklace, earrings, bangles, bracelets, and rings — were recovered buried underground at Nazma Khatun's residence. The yellow metal ornaments weighed approximately 49 grams and silver ornaments around 1,350 grams.
Who is the alleged mastermind and has he been caught?
The alleged mastermind is Subhani Ansari, also known as Lalka. As of 11 May 2025, he remains at large. Police are conducting raids at multiple locations to arrest him and other absconding accused.
How many people have been arrested in the case so far?
A total of nine people have been arrested — seven on 24 April 2025, who were sent to judicial custody, and two more (Nazma Khatun and Shehnawaz Hussain) on 11 May 2025.
