Tehsil police have arrested three individuals, including two former employees, in connection with the theft of Rs 4.90 lakh from Chawla Saree Depot, a cloth merchant’s shop in Gandhibagh. The arrested suspects are identified as Adarsh Mahesh Sonkusare (22), resident of Tandapeth; Roshan Shailesh Sonkusare (21), resident of Naik Talav; and Nishant Ramrao Hedaoo (24). The shop owner, Ramesh Premchand Chawla (61), who resides in Byramji Town, reported the theft, which occurred on the night of October 21.
According to the police, the incident took place after Chawla closed his shop and went home. That night, thieves accessed the shop by bending the back shutter and breaking the locker, making off with Rs 4.90 lakh in cash. The next day, Chawla discovered the break-in and filed a complaint with the Tehsil police, who then began investigating the case.
Police suspected insider involvement due to the familiarity of the break-in and gathered information on current and former employees. Adarsh had worked at the shop five years ago, while Roshan had only left two months earlier. Under police interrogation, Roshan confessed to the theft, admitting that he, Adarsh, and Nishant had broken into the shop. According to police, Adarsh was the mastermind behind the plan, accessing the shop through the back shutter.
The police recovered Rs 2.11 lakh from the suspects, who had reportedly spent the stolen money lavishly, including on a Diwali celebration trip to Mumbai. Adarsh, now an e-rickshaw driver, allegedly used his vehicle to travel to the shop to plan the theft. Following their confession, the court has placed all three accused in police custody.