Gold Artisan Busted in Mumbai for Massive Jewelry Heist

Crime in the jewelry Trade: Craftsman Turned Criminal

In a shocking turn of events, a trusted gold artisan has been arrested for embezzling gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 19.5 lakh from a shop in South Mumbai. The accused, identified as 33-year-old Bishu Ramkrishna Mangal, allegedly absconded with the high-value items that were entrusted to him for polishing and diamond setting. The heist took place on June 1, sparking a swift and intensive investigation by the VP Road Police.

Mumbai police tracked the accused to East Midnapore district in West Bengal
Image Credit: StockShots

Tracked Down in West Bengal

The complainant, Anupam Tapankumar Pal, a 42-year-old jeweller, had handed over 272 grams of 14-carat gold and diamond polki to Mangal, who was employed at his workshop. Instead of completing the job, Mangal vanished with the ornaments, prompting Pal to file a complaint under Section 316(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. As detailed in this Crime in the Jewelry Trade news report, police launched a technical investigation that eventually led them to East Midnapore in West Bengal.

Valuables Recovered but Not All

After a meticulous two-day operation, police officers apprehended Mangal and recovered a significant portion of the stolen items. The seized goods included 105 grams of gold jewellery, a 139-gram yellow metal necklace, and 28 diamond stones or polkis, estimated to be worth Rs 14 lakh. Despite the recovery, jewellery worth over Rs 5 lakh is still unaccounted for.

Ongoing Legal and Investigative Actions

Following his arrest, Mangal was initially remanded to police custody until July 17, 2025. He has since been transferred to judicial custody. Authorities continue their investigation to trace the remaining stolen jewellery and uncover whether others were involved in the theft.

This case serves as a stark reminder to jewellery businesses to exercise utmost caution even with long-term employees. In an industry where trust is essential, even a skilled artisan can betray confidence for personal gain.

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