Two Suspects Arrested in Chhattisgarh with Over ₹20 Crore Worth of Stolen Goods; Investigation Reveals Details of Daring Heist
In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police have arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the daring ₹20 crore heist at a jewellery store in Bhogal, South Delhi. These arrests came about as a result of a separate theft case investigation led by the Bilaspur police in Chhattisgarh. During this investigation, the police became aware of the duo’s alleged role in the Bhogal burglary.
The suspects, identified as Lokesh Srivas (24) and Shiva Chandravanshi (23), were apprehended in Chhattisgarh, and most of the stolen gold and cash have been successfully recovered. A Delhi police official stated that the apprehension of these two individuals took place within the jurisdiction of Bilaspur district, located approximately 100 kilometres away from the Chhattisgarh state capital, Raipur. Their arrest was connected to ongoing legal matters, and both suspects had a prior history of criminal activities, having been previously detained by state law enforcement on two separate occasions in the past.
A senior Delhi police officer revealed that the stolen loot, estimated to be upwards of ₹20 crore, included 17 kilograms of gold and ₹12.50 lakh in cash. With their prior criminal record, the suspects had previously been arrested by state police in Chhattisgarh.
A Delhi police team, having successfully identified and tracked down the suspects to Bilaspur, swiftly coordinated with local authorities. The two individuals will be brought to Delhi once transit remand is granted by a local court. The police anticipate gathering more information about the heist during their custodial interrogation.
As per the police account, a band of robbers executed their operation shortly before midnight on Sunday. Their method involved gaining entry through the terrace of an adjacent building, where they opened a glass panel on the top floor for access. Subsequently, they disabled both the CCTV surveillance and alarm systems. Their daring heist continued as they proceeded to drill a hole into the secure strongbox situated within the ground-floor showroom, making off with valuable gold and diamond jewellery.
The suspects are believed to be part of a larger criminal network responsible for the high-profile burglary that made national headlines. Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Deo stated, “The role of an insider can be ascertained only after their interrogation,” hinting at the possibility of accomplices.
The investigation also revealed that the main suspect, Lokesh Srivas, had broken into the jewellery store late on Sunday night, remained hidden inside for 15 hours, and fled on Monday evening. He was eventually apprehended in Chhattisgarh. The recovery of 18.5kg of gold and diamond jewellery and ₹12.5 lakhs in cash from Srivas further solidified the case against him. The police continue to explore whether any insiders aided in planning the heist.
Chhattisgarh’s Inspector General of Police, Ajay Yadav, provided insight into the collaborative effort between the Delhi and Chhattisgarh police forces that led to the arrest. It involved identifying Srivas in CCTV footage, tracking his movements to a bus station, and eventually detaining him in Chhattisgarh.
The arrested suspects, Srivas and Chandravanshi, are believed to be involved in multiple theft cases across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. Investigations are ongoing to uncover their entire network and any additional associates.
As the recovered goods are assessed and further information surfaces, the investigation into this audacious jewellery store heist in Bhogal continues to unravel the full extent of the criminal operation.
