Ara, 11th March 2025: In a dramatic development in the ₹10 crore jewellery heist at the Tanishq Jewellery Showroom in Arrah, police have recovered the licensed gun of a security guard and a customer’s mobile phone that were snatched during the robbery. Bhojpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj provided this update during a press conference on Tuesday.
The recovery was made following information provided by Vishal Gupta of Dighwara (Chhapra district) and Kunal Kumar of Semra village (Sonpur police station), who were apprehended after being injured in a police encounter.
During interrogation, the arrested criminals disclosed that they had hidden the stolen gun in a bush near Kayamnagar bridge under Koilwar police station limits while fleeing. The SP stated that the gang involved in the robbery has been identified, and raids are underway at potential hideouts to apprehend other members.
भोजपुर जिले के नगर थानांतर्गत तनिष्क शोरूम में हुई लूट के मामले में #BiharPolice का त्वरित एक्शन
अपराधियों की गिरफ्तारी को लेकर छापामारी के दौरान अपराधियों और पुलिस की बीच हुई मुठभेड़ में 02 अपराधियों को किया गया गिरफ्तार(1/2)
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.#HainTaiyaarHum #Bihar @BiharHomeDept pic.twitter.com/3rIDg4jw8Y— Bihar Police (@bihar_police) March 11, 2025
Two separate FIRs have been lodged—one based on the complaint of Vinod Kumar, assistant store manager of Tanishq, regarding the ₹10 crore 9 lakh 59 thousand robbery, and another by Barhara SHO Shaileshwar regarding the police encounter in Babura, Barhara.
Police have successfully recovered more than 50% of the stolen jewellery, including two out of the three bags that were looted. Additionally, they have seized two pistols, ten cartridges, and a bike used in the crime.
Police sources revealed that Chandan Kumar, a history-sheeter from Vaishali district, currently lodged in Bakunda Jail, West Bengal, is the key conspirator behind the robbery.
His name surfaced during the confession of Vishal Gupta and Kunal Kumar, the two criminals arrested in the encounter. The police will soon interrogate Chandan to uncover further links.
Additionally, investigators are probing potential connections between Chandan and Subodh Singh of Nalanda and the Nirantak gang of Vaishali district, both of whom are also imprisoned in West Bengal. Their involvement in inter-state robbery cases is being examined.
Extensive Raids Across Multiple Districts
With the help of technical surveillance and CCTV footage, police are conducting raids across Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, and Saran districts to locate and arrest other gang members. As part of this operation, authorities have detained three to four other suspects for questioning.
To expedite the investigation, Shahabad DIG Satya Prakash has been camping in Ara for two days, closely monitoring the crackdown on suspects. He is being assisted by Bhojpur SP Raj, ASP Parichay Kumar, and a Special Task Force (STF) team led by DSP Rajiv Ranjan, which is analyzing mobile call data records (CDR), technical inputs, and CCTV footage to pinpoint the criminals.
SP Raj announced that officers and personnel who played a crucial role in the arrests and investigation would be recognized and rewarded for their efforts.
Among those present at the press conference were ASP Parichay Kumar, Town SHO Devraj Rai, Inspectors Vijay Singh and Govind Kumar, and Barhara SHO Shaileshwar.
Inside the Heist: How the Robbery Unfolded
Entry as Customers
According to assistant store manager Vinod Kumar’s FIR, the criminals entered the showroom posing as customers looking to buy a gold ring.
At 10:21 AM on Monday, two of them entered first and sat at the first-floor counter. Within the next three to four minutes, three more entered, held the security guard at gunpoint, and snatched his licensed gun and six cartridges.
Employees Held Hostage
The assailants then took control of the ground floor, threatening employees at gunpoint. Two more robbers entered, bringing the total number of criminals inside to seven. When a female employee attempted to make a phone call, the robbers snatched all mobile phones.
A female staff member, upon realizing the situation, ran to the second floor to warn her colleagues, but she was held hostage at gunpoint and assaulted when she tried to resist. The criminals then smashed display counters and looted jewellery.
Ten-Minute Loot, Jewellery Stuffed in Jackets
The robbers looted jewellery worth ₹10 crore 9 lakh 59 thousand within ten minutes, filling three large bags, their pockets, and jackets before fleeing.
Escape Plan: Bikes Strategically Parked
Showroom Stock Checked Post-Heist
At the time of closing on March 9, the showroom had a stock worth ₹24 crore 37 lakh 74 thousand. After the robbery, only ₹14 crore 28 lakh 14 thousand worth of jewellery remained, confirming a ₹10 crore 9 lakh 59 thousand loss.
Bikes Positioned for Quick Getaway
- A blue Pulsar bike was parked right outside the showroom, with two bags placed on it.
- Two criminals escaped on this bike, heading towards Barhara.
- The other four criminals walked 80 meters to reach two more bikes parked in an alley.
- One of them was carrying the stolen gun.
Investigation: Shelter in Bhojpur Before Heist
Before committing the robbery, the gang spent the night in the Kayamnagar-Babura area of Bhojpur district. Police are trying to locate the house where they stayed, as action will be taken against those who sheltered them.
The two arrested criminals claimed they had arrived from Saran, while their accomplices had already taken refuge in the district’s border areas.
Criminals Used Fake Identities
The arrested criminals do not know the real names of their accomplices, as the mastermind hires gang members using fake identities and communicates through coded numbers to prevent leaks. Now, police are identifying the remaining gang members through CCTV footage and have zeroed in on a few suspects.
The Tanishq Jewellery heist, one of the biggest in Bihar’s history, has led to a massive crackdown on criminals across multiple districts.
With over 50% of the stolen jewellery recovered, two gang members arrested, and the mastermind identified, police are inching closer to solving the case. Raids and interrogations continue, ensuring that the remaining culprits are brought to justice.
