Mumbai: Jeweller Accuses Businessman of Stealing Gold Jewellery Worth ₹1 Crore

Lalit Suresh Kawadiya (42), owner of 'Surbhi Jewellers,' has filed a complaint against businessman Suman Sodesh Bera (42) for allegedly stealing 12 kilograms and 77 grams of gold jewellery worth approximately ₹1 crore.

Kawadiya, who has been residing with his family in the Dhanji Street area of Mumbai for the past two years, runs a wholesale gold jewellery business under the name 'Surbhi Jewellers.' After noticing consistent discrepancies in his stock, Kawadiya checked the CCTV footage of his shop. The footage reportedly showed Suman Bera, owner of 'Aditi Jewellers,' distracting the staff and stealing jewellery.

Further investigation of the last four months of CCTV footage revealed that Bera had stolen approximately 2.5 kilograms of gold jewellery since 2023. On March 16, 2024, when Bera visited the shop again, the staff, remaining vigilant, caught him red-handed while stealing.

During interrogation, Bera confessed to the theft in writing in Bengali, admitting that he had mortgaged some of the stolen jewellery at Muthoot Finance to purchase a flat and a shop.

Bera had promised to return some of the stolen jewellery and assured that the remaining would be returned within eight days. However, he later cut off all contact and switched off his mobile phone. Kawadiya visited Muthoot Finance in Dombivli, where he discovered that Bera had mortgaged 77 grams of gold jewellery.

Subsequently, Kawadiya filed a legal complaint against Bera. A case has been registered under Section 380 of the Indian Penal Code at Lokmanya Tilak (LT) Marg Police Station, and an investigation is currently underway.