Kolhapur teen sells uncle's 15 tola gold, buys Thar, calls uncle to bless it; both held

A 19-year-old in Panhala taluka of Kolhapur district has been arrested for stealing 15 tola of gold ornaments from his own relative's house, selling them, buying a Mahindra Thar with the proceeds and then inviting the victim to bless the vehicle. The jeweller who bought the gold has also been taken into custody. The case was cracked within 48 hours.

The accused is Samar Popat Chavan, a resident of Satave village (also spelt Satve) who is studying for a diploma in engineering. His cousin-uncle, Umesh Maruti Chavan, lives in the house next door. The two families are close, and Samar was a frequent visitor there. About a month ago, police say, he used that access to take the jewellery, valued at Rs 14.5 lakh, from the safe at Umesh Chavan's home.

He then sold the ornaments through Sangram Babaso More, a jeweller of Devwadi village in Shirala taluka of Sangli district, and got around Rs 10 lakh. On Dussehra, considered an auspicious day for such purchases, he paid for a brand-new Thar and brought it home with a lavish welcome. The sudden arrival of so costly a vehicle in a student's household raised eyebrows.

Samar then asked Umesh Chavan and his family to attend the puja as chief guests. The uncle obliged, worshipped the vehicle and broke a coconut for it, unaware that it had been bought with his own gold.

The two filings differ slightly on how the loss was found. One account says Umesh Chavan discovered the missing jewellery while getting ready to go for the puja. The other says his wife opened the safe after the ceremony, wanting to wear some ornaments, and found the box gone. Both agree on the rest. The old gold belonging to the grandmother was untouched, and only the 15 tola belonging to Umesh Chavan and his wife had vanished. Concluding that the thief was someone who knew the household well, the family went to Kodoli police station and filed a written complaint of theft.

Kodoli police began their inquiry and soon turned their attention to Samar, since he had just bought an expensive vehicle. Questioned firmly about the source of Rs 10 lakh, he claimed he had made a profit trading in the share market, but could offer no proof.

A check of his bank account changed matters. It showed a deposit of Rs 3.40 lakh from Sangram More, the Shirala jeweller. That link strengthened the suspicion, and faced with the firm line taken by officers, Samar admitted the theft.

Police arrested More as a co-accused. He is alleged to have bought the gold at a low price without asking for any papers. Officers seized the Thar, the recovered gold and a motorcycle, together worth Rs 30.51 lakh. The Panhala court has remanded both accused in police custody for three days.

The operation was led under probationary Deputy Superintendent of Police Shrikant Thikane. His team comprised head constables Yuvraj Patil and Babaso Kite, and constables Mahesh Kadam, Amol Chavan and Mahesh Shinde. Kodoli police are continuing their investigation.

The episode of a nephew who spent stolen money on a Thar and then asked the victim to perform its puja has become a talking point in Satave and across Kolhapur district.