Five held for diamond loot, valuables worth 14L seized

Surat: Crime branch sleuths nabbed a gang of five members on Wednesday who had looted diamonds and also attacked the owner of a diamond polishing unit in Katargam last September.
The police have also recovered the looted diamonds along with other valuables altogether valued at Rs 13.7 lakh. Cops arrested Ravindra alias Babar Kandodiya, Kalu alias Dawood Nanji Jetani, Rajesh Bhil, Shailesh Vaghela and Mehul alias Shailesh Donda for their alleged involvement in the loot.
In the incident, the gang targeted Kanaiyalal Prajapati, when he was leaving his polishing unit in Jerammora Ni Vadi on September 12. Prajapati was in the parking lot of the building and was keeping the bag with diamond packets, cash and mobile phone in his moped when the accused attacked him.
The accused gagged him to prevent him from shouting and later escaped on two motorcycles after looting the bag with valuables from him.
Police investigation revealed that Kandodiya was working in Prajapati’s unit a few months ago. He had knowledge about Prajapati leaving the office with diamond packets alone daily on his moped. Kandodiya contacted the other accused and asked them to join in the loot.
After looting the bag, the accused took help of Donda to sell the valuables. Police recovered 41 pieces of 22 carat diamonds worth Rs 13 lakh, a motorcycle worth Rs 40,000 and mobile phones worth Rs 30,000.