Ahmedabad: City police have arrested an Indian Air Force (IAF) corporal in connection with a ₹1.5 crore armed robbery at a jewellery store in Ahmedabad’s Manek Chowk, nearly two years after the crime was committed.
The accused, Deepak Singh Bhuker, 31, is currently serving as a corporal with an Air Force unit in New Delhi. A native of Haryana’s Jhajjar district, he was taken into custody on Thursday after police completed the required legal formalities. Bhuker remains in service with the IAF.
According to investigators, the accused was allegedly driven by mounting debts arising from betting and gambling activities.
Armed Robbery at Jewellery Store
The robbery took place on July 16, 2024, when a masked man entered Soni Himmatmal Shankarlal Jewellers in Manek Chowk carrying a pistol.
Police said the accused allegedly stole gold chains, rings, gold biscuits, around 10 kilograms of silver, other ornaments and cash, with the total value of the stolen property estimated at ₹1.5 crore.
Before fleeing, he allegedly shot the jewellery shop owner’s father in the leg.
Investigation Led to Air Force Corporal
The investigation gained momentum after police received information linking a service revolver stolen during an unsolved house break-in in Jamnagar to the Manek Chowk robbery.
Investigators analysed CCTV footage and gathered intelligence, eventually identifying Bhuker, who had been posted at the Air Force Station in Jamnagar when both incidents occurred.
A police team led by Police Sub-Inspector V.H. Rathod travelled to New Delhi and arrested the accused from his Air Force unit after obtaining the necessary legal clearance.
During a search of his barracks, officers recovered the pistol allegedly used in the robbery along with five live cartridges.
Elaborate Efforts to Avoid Detection
Police said Bhuker took extensive measures to conceal his identity before and after the robbery.
Investigators alleged that he used fake Aadhaar cards and mobile phone numbers to book hotel rooms, wrapped bandages around his fingers to avoid leaving fingerprints, and changed clothes while escaping.
He also reportedly travelled in four different autorickshaws after the robbery in an attempt to evade surveillance.
Police have additionally linked him to the 2024 Jamnagar house break-in in which the service revolver was allegedly stolen.
Previous Criminal Record
According to police, Bhuker has a prior criminal record, including a conviction in a cheque dishonour case in Jamnagar and a prohibition-related offence.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3) Rupal Solanki said the recovery of the stolen service revolver has enabled investigators to solve both the Jamnagar burglary and the Ahmedabad jewellery robbery cases.
