Family Members Accused in Shocking Rs 50 Lakh Jewelry Theft
In a disturbing case of family betrayal, a 70-year-old man along with his daughter-in-law and her 16-year-old son have been accused of stealing jewelry worth approximately Rs 50 lakh from his own daughter's residence in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on November 18 after the perpetrators allegedly drugged the victim to render her unconscious.
The Unfolding of the Crime
The accused, identified as Ravindra Khetan, his daughter-in-law Shivani Khetan, and her teenage son visited the victim Soni Bansal at her home in DSL Green City Colony, which falls under the Dargah Sharif police station area. According to police investigations, Shivani had allegedly mixed depression medication into her sister-in-law's tea, causing her to lose consciousness.
The crime came to light when Soni's husband, Manoj Tulsiyan, returned from his shop and discovered his wife in an unconscious state. "She was initially treated in Bahraich, and when her condition failed to improve, she was shifted to Apollo Hospital in Lucknow," Tulsiyan revealed to news agency PTI.
Theft Discovery and Police Action
The family made the shocking discovery of the missing jewelry on November 21 after returning to Bahraich from Lucknow. The thieves had stolen gold, silver, and diamond jewelry valued at around Rs 50 lakh from the family locker. Meanwhile, the suspects had vacated the premises without informing anyone while Soni was undergoing medical treatment.
Police authorities registered a formal case against the three accused on November 22. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ashok Kumar Singh confirmed that multiple investigation teams were deployed, utilizing mobile phone records, CCTV footage, and other technical evidence to track down the culprits.
Investigators revealed that the accused had attempted to sell the stolen jewelry at various shops but met with failure when jewelers demanded proper identification documents, preventing them from disposing of the valuable items.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
In a significant breakthrough, police authorities arrested Shivani Khetan near Gullabeer Temple on Monday and successfully recovered the stolen jewelry from her possession. Initial police investigations indicate that Shivani had conceived the theft plan after becoming tempted by the expensive jewelry during her visit to the house.
While Shivani has been sent to judicial custody, police teams continue their efforts to apprehend the remaining two suspects - the 70-year-old Ravindra Khetan and the 16-year-old minor who remain at large. The case highlights a tragic instance of family trust being violated for financial gain, leaving the victims to deal with both emotional and financial trauma.
