Patna Jeweller Duped as Driver and Son Flee with Rs 90 Lakh, Splurge on Thar and Split Between Jharkhand and UP

Patna: A jewellery trader in Patna has been left reeling after his driver and the driver’s son allegedly fled with Rs 90 lakh meant for delivery to Kolkata, police said.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma told reporters that the case came to light after Ranjan Kumar, owner of a jewellery shop in Bakarganj under Kadamkuan police station, filed a complaint on June 3 alleging that his driver, Abhishek Gaurav, had disappeared with the cash.

Police investigations revealed that on June 29, Kumar had sent his staff member Amit Kumar along with driver Abhishek Gaurav to Kolkata, carrying Rs 90 lakh in two bags intended for Kumar’s family. However, in the early hours of 30 June near Giridih, while the staff member slept in the vehicle, Gaurav allegedly rendezvoused with his son Priyanshu Gaurav. The duo reportedly transferred the cash into another car and fled, leaving Amit Kumar behind.

Following the incident, Abhishek and his son fled in different directions, police said. Priyanshu took one bag of money to Patratu in Jharkhand, while Abhishek headed towards Uttar Pradesh, where he briefly stayed at a shrine and offered a chaadar before going into hiding at a lodge.

Police said that after returning to Patratu, Abhishek purchased diamond, gold and silver jewellery for his wife, while his son reportedly splurged on a black Thar SUV and a motorcycle worth Rs 3 lakh.

A police team eventually traced both suspects to their residence in Patratu and arrested them. Officers recovered Rs 40.10 lakh in cash, jewellery, the Thar SUV, the motorcycle and mobile phones during the raid.

The SSP said investigations are ongoing to locate the remaining cash.