Nagpur woman booked for selling mother-in-law's gold to buy an iPhone

A woman in Nagpur has been booked on the allegation that she took her mother-in-law's gold ornaments, sold them and used the proceeds to buy an Apple iPhone. The case has been registered at Shantinagar police station, and the episode has left the family badly shaken.

The accused is Granthali Akash Verma. The complaint was filed by her mother-in-law, Radha Verma.

Radha Verma had planned a trip to Shirdi for darshan. While getting ready, she opened the cupboard at home to pick up cash for the journey and some jewellery to wear. She found that 53 grams of gold were gone. Police said the missing items included a mangalsutra of 30 grams, a necklace of 13 grams and other ornaments totalling 10 grams. The jewellery is valued at around Rs 2.5 lakh.

The ornaments had been collected over a lifetime of hard work, and their sudden disappearance came as a heavy blow to the elderly woman. After searching the house and questioning family members, her suspicion turned first to her daughter-in-law, partly because a theft case had been registered against the younger woman on an earlier occasion.

Radha Verma and her husband questioned Granthali sternly. According to the complaint, she admitted to taking the jewellery and promised to give it back soon. Despite repeated requests and pleading from the family, nothing was returned. Radha Verma then went to Shantinagar police station and lodged a complaint.

Police questioned the accused closely. She is said to have confessed that she stole the ornaments, sold them outside and spent the money on an expensive iPhone. Police have registered a case of theft against her under the complaint.

Investigators are now trying to find out where the jewellery was sold, how much money it fetched and what the details are of the phone that was bought. They are also trying to recover the sold ornaments, and the inquiry into further legal action is continuing.