Covid debt led 4 to Rs 88L gold loot

Rajkot: Desperation to repay debt due to Covid-19 infection led to four people from Indore robbing gold worth Rs 88 lakh from a Rajkot-based jeweller travelling in a bus last week

Surendranagar police arrested Hidayat Khan Pathan, his wife Razia, daughter Alisha and nephew Ehetesham, after they were brought here on a transfer warrant. They were arrested based on the description given by the

trader Shailesh Patoriya,

who used to sell gold ornaments to Pathan regularly

,

and the CCTV images

.

Police said Hidyat was infected with Covid-19 and 50% of his lungs were infected. He had spent around Rs 40 lakh for the treatment which he had borrowed money. Hidayat’s brother Hayatkhan died during Covid-19.

Hidayat was into the business of silver in Indore and knew that Patoriya used to frequently travel to Indore to sell ornaments regularly. Patoriya used to travel to Indore to show the designs to various traders and Hidayat was aware of this.

Hidayat along with his family decided to steal the gold bag to pay his debt and the four accused came to Rajkot.

MD Chaudhray, police inspector, local crime branch, said “They also kept two women with them so that nobody would suspect them. Ehetesham booked the ticket in the same bus in which Patoriya was travelling and other three members were following the bus in a car.”

When Patoriya went to relieve himself at a rest point, Ehetesham stole the bag, got down and escaped in Hidayat’s car. The police also had the appearance of Ehetesham and CCTV footage.