In a swift operation, the TT Nagar police personnel apprehended seven suspects who were allegedly plotting a major robbery targeting Modi Jewellers in Panchsheel Nagar. The arrests were made on March 30, within 24 hours of receiving credible intelligence about the planned crime. Acting on the tip-off, a police team led by Inspector Sudhir Arjaria raided the area behind Platinum Plaza near a water tank, where the accused were devising their scheme. The operation unfolded as the city prepared for the upcoming Eid and Navratri festivals, prompting heightened security measures under the directives of Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra and Additional Police Commissioner Awadhesh Goswami. The police received information that a group of armed individuals was planning a significant heist to gather funds for securing anticipatory bail and fleeing Bhopal to evade arrest in an ongoing attempted murder case. Upon reaching the location, officers overheard the suspects discussing their intent to rob Modi Jewellers, expecting a substantial haul of gold, silver, and cash due to the festive season.

 

As the police moved in, the suspects attempted to scatter, resulting in minor injuries from falls during the chase. However, they were quickly surrounded and detained with the assistance of additional personnel. Items seized from the scene included an iron rod, an iron pipe, a knife, three sharp-edged daggers, a sword, a stick, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone, collectively valued at approximately Rs 1,25,000. The suspects, identified as habitual offenders with prior criminal records, had already committed violent acts leading up to this planned robbery. On March 29, two of the accused, Umesh Chouhan and Anand Chouhan, snatched a mobile phone from Abhinay Singh, a pedestrian, in a hit-and-run theft. Later that night, the group, including Aditya Chouhan, Monu Chouhan and Sawan Thakur, carried out a brutal attack on Kapil Yadav in Arjun Nagar over an old rivalry. Using weapons, they left Yadav severely injured, and he remains hospitalised. This assault was a precursor to their larger scheme, as the group sought funds to escape legal consequences and sustain themselves outside Bhopal. The arrested individuals include Santosh alias Kalu Lodhe (25), with over two dozen prior cases; Umesh Chouhan (22), with eight crimes, Shani Chouhan (19), with three cases, Aditya alias Aadi Chouhan (20), with three cases, Anand Chouhan (20), with three cases; Monu Chouhan (20), with two cases, and Sawan Thakur (19), with two cases. Their plan hinged on exploiting the festive period, believing that Modi Jewellers would stockpile valuables, providing them with a lucrative target. However, the timely intervention by the TT Nagar police thwarted their conspiracy, ensuring the safety of the targeted establishment and the community at large. The seized weapons and motorcycle were intended for use in executing the robbery, underscoring the group’s preparedness for a serious crime.