Hyderabad: A notorious criminal incarcerated in the Buer Central Jail in Patna has been identified as the mastermind behind the sensational heist at the PMJ Jewelers store in Karimnagar on May 3, Telangana police officials disclosed on Thursday. Subodh Singh, widely known as the 'Golden Thief' due to his history of targeting jewelry stores and banks, meticulously planned the entire operation from the confines of a maximum-security prison.
Details of the Heist
Five men, armed with pistols, executed the robbery at the store, making off with 1.6 kilograms of gold ornaments valued at over Rs 1.5 crore and diamonds weighing 112 carats. During the incident, four employees of the store were shot and injured. Karimnagar police commissioner Gaush Alam confirmed the arrest of three of Subodh's associates: Raghunath Karmakar and Mehtab Khan from West Bengal, and Ravish Kumar from Bihar. At least ten more accused individuals remain at large.
Investigation and Modus Operandi
Officials have refrained from disclosing details of how the case was cracked, as they continue efforts to track down additional members of Subodh's gang involved in the heist. Sources indicate that the gang members may have already melted a significant portion of the stolen gold. Mehtab Khan is believed to have provided logistical support, while Raghunath and Ravish were directly involved in the robbery and opened fire on store employees.
Subodh Singh faces 42 criminal cases across various parts of the country, predominantly for robberies and burglaries. Raghunath and Ravish have seven and fifteen cases against them, respectively.
Planning and Execution
Commissioner Alam elaborated on the conspiracy, stating that five of Subodh's associates—Raghunath Karmakar, Ravish Kumar, Radhe (alias Abhay), Mishra, and Suryamani Kumar (alias Sanoj)—arrived in Telangana approximately two months before the heist. They purchased SIM cards from Mehtab Khan at the Jharkhand-West Bengal border for Rs 10,000 each. Subsequently, they traveled to Telangana and scouted locations in Khammam, Siddipet, Peddapalli, and Karimnagar to identify a suitable target, ultimately selecting PMJ Jewelers in Karimnagar.
The gang stayed at a guest house in Dharmapuri, about 70 kilometers from Karimnagar. Following instructions from one of Subodh's couriers, Raghunath boarded a train in Mancherial on May 1 and reached Chandrapur railway station in Maharashtra. There, he met two unknown individuals who handed over six pistols and magazines. He returned to Dharmapuri the next day. On May 3, all five accused left the guest house, using two bikes arranged by Subodh to reach the PMJ store. They robbed the store and fired four rounds, injuring four employees. The group then fled back to Dharmapuri.
Escape and Aftermath
Sanoj, Radhe, and Pradyuman abandoned the Pulsar bike near the Godavari riverbank, crossed the river on foot, and boarded a train from Mancherial. Meanwhile, Raghunath and Mishra traveled on the Apache bike, carrying the jewelry bag to the Gundala forest area as instructed. The bag was handed over to individuals in a car. Subsequently, three of them reached Bihar by train.
