Kolhapur: A 19-year-old man in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district has been arrested for allegedly stealing 15 tolas of gold jewellery belonging to his uncle, selling the ornaments for Rs 10 lakh and using the money to purchase a Mahindra Thar. In an unusual turn of events, the accused allegedly invited his uncle to perform a puja for the newly purchased SUV.

The incident took place in Satve village, where the accused, identified as Samar Popat Chavan, allegedly stole the jewellery belonging to his uncle, Umesh Maruti Chavan, about a month ago. The two relatives live in the same village, with Umesh residing nearby.

According to the police, Samar allegedly took around 15 tolas of gold ornaments, equivalent to approximately 150 grams as reported in the case, from his uncle’s house. He then allegedly sold the jewellery for Rs 10 lakh with the assistance of a local goldsmith, identified as Sangram Babaso More.

The money was reportedly used to purchase a new Mahindra Thar, a sport utility vehicle that has attracted considerable interest among young buyers in India.

After bringing the vehicle home, Samar allegedly invited his uncle to participate in the puja organised to mark the arrival of the SUV. Umesh, unaware of the alleged theft, attended the occasion.

The alleged theft came to light when Umesh later went to check his gold jewellery and discovered that the ornaments were missing. The missing items reportedly belonged to him and his wife, while jewellery belonging to his grandmother, which had been kept nearby, remained untouched.

The circumstances surrounding the missing ornaments led the family to suspect that the person responsible could have been familiar with the household and its arrangements.

Missing jewellery prompts police complaint

Following the discovery, Umesh approached the Kodoli Police Station and lodged a complaint about the missing jewellery. The complaint was filed two days before the police action, after which officers began investigating the case.

The police examined the circumstances of the theft and sought to establish who could have accessed the house and what had happened to the missing ornaments. Investigators also looked into the suspected sale of the jewellery and the movement of the money obtained from it.

The fact that the ornaments belonging to Umesh and his wife had disappeared, while the grandmother’s jewellery reportedly remained untouched, formed part of the circumstances surrounding the complaint.

As the investigation progressed, the police reportedly noticed that Samar had recently acquired an expensive vehicle. The purchase raised questions about the source of the money used to buy the Thar, given the timing of the theft complaint.

Investigators subsequently questioned Samar about the incident. According to the details shared by the police, he confessed to stealing the ornaments during questioning.

The police then arrested Samar and goldsmith Sangram More for their alleged roles in the case. Their arrests followed the investigation into the theft and the suspected sale of the jewellery.

Goldsmith allegedly helped sell the ornaments

Investigators suspect that the stolen jewellery was sold with the assistance of More, a local goldsmith. The alleged transaction is a key part of the case because it could help the police establish how the ornaments were disposed of and how the accused obtained the money used to purchase the vehicle.

The police are investigating the circumstances of the sale, including the handling of the jewellery and the movement of the reported Rs 10 lakh proceeds. Establishing the transaction details may help investigators trace the stolen property and determine the respective roles of the two accused.

The investigation is also expected to establish the complete sequence of events, from the alleged theft at the uncle’s house to the sale of the ornaments and the purchase of the SUV.

Although the arrests followed the police investigation, the allegations against both men will be subject to the legal process. The precise nature of each accused person’s involvement will have to be established through the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.

Mahindra Thar purchase draws attention in the case

The purchase of the Mahindra Thar became a significant element of the police investigation because it reportedly involved a substantial amount of money shortly after the jewellery went missing.

The SUV is a prominent model in Mahindra’s vehicle line-up and is particularly visible among younger motorists. In this case, however, the vehicle purchase allegedly prompted investigators to examine how Samar had obtained the funds required for it.

According to the police account, the accused’s recent acquisition of the vehicle raised suspicion during the investigation. The subsequent questioning reportedly led to his confession to the alleged theft.

The invitation to Umesh to perform the new vehicle’s puja added an unusual element to the incident. The uncle had allegedly been invited to take part in the ceremony without knowing that his jewellery had been stolen and sold to finance the purchase.

The case illustrates how the investigation of a reported property theft can extend beyond the missing items themselves, with police examining suspected resale transactions and significant purchases that may be connected to the proceeds.

Police continue investigation into theft

The Kodoli police are continuing their investigation into the alleged theft, the sale of the ornaments and the use of the money to purchase the Thar. Investigators are expected to establish the full sequence of events and determine the roles allegedly played by Samar and More.

The case began with Umesh’s complaint after he discovered that the family’s jewellery was missing. Police suspicion reportedly shifted towards his nephew after investigators noticed the recent vehicle purchase and questioned him about the source of the funds.

With both Samar Chavan and Sangram More arrested in connection with the case, further investigation will focus on the suspected transaction and the evidence available to support the allegations.

The reported recovery of the sequence of events—from the missing gold to the purchase of the SUV—will be central to establishing the facts of the case. The allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings.