Nagpur Police Crack High-Value Burglary Case with Advanced AI Technology
In a significant breakthrough, the Nagpur city police crime branch has successfully recovered valuables and tools worth over Rs 3.3 crore following the arrest of alleged burglar Rajnikant Chanore and his accomplice Pratap Urkude. The investigation, which involved AI-based analysis and an intense inter-state chase, stemmed from a burglary at businessman Baljinder Singh Indrajit Singh Nayyar's residence in Shirke Layout, Raj Nagar last month.
Arrest and Recovery Details
Sources revealed that Chanore (25), a resident of Besa-Pipla Road, and Urkude (26), both hailing from Bhandara, were apprehended last week after being traced to Bhosari in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune. Their location was pinpointed through cellphone tower data, while ATM transactions indicated their stay in Ahmedabad. Police disclosed that the duo had planned to travel to Kolkata to melt stolen gold stored at Chanore's rented flat in Hudkeshwar.
During searches, authorities recovered:
- 1,228 grams of gold ornaments
- 197 grams of silver jewellery
- Rs 33 lakh in cash
- Burglary tools
- Five mobile phones
- An expensive watch
- Gold-melting materials
- A moped used in the crime
AI-Driven Investigation and Suspect Profile
The investigation heavily relied on AI-driven surveillance, analyzing CCTV footage from the crime scene and other locations. Despite unclear footage, police identified the burglar's gait, physical build, and modus operandi as key leads. Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal, along with Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP Vasant Pardeshi, and DCP Crime Rahul Maknikar, announced at a media briefing on Sunday that the gang was involved in 22 offences across multiple states, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Police initially identified around 50 individuals with similar physical traits and movements. After rigorous verification, 42 suspects were ruled out, narrowing the probe to eight prime suspects. Chanore emerged as the key suspect following cross-checks of travel data, mobile signals, and financial trails.
Background and Criminal Network
Chanore, a Class 12 pass-out trained in forex trading, allegedly turned to crime after suffering heavy stock-market losses. Sources described his extravagant lifestyle, funded by the loot, which included flying between cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Pune, staying in 5-star hotels, and driving high-end cars. His wardrobe reportedly contained 50 pairs of branded jeans and global luxury labels.
His modus operandi involved entering homes through back doors or windows and using specialised equipment to melt stolen gold, avoiding traceability. His girlfriend, an ayurveda student in Bhopal, allegedly helped expand his criminal network. Chanore had previously visited the Mahakumbh after a burglary and faced multiple cases across Nagpur city, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Bhilai-Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.
Police Action and Future Steps
The arrest was made by Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar, formerly in-charge of Hudkeshwar police station and now heading the crime branch team that busted the gang. Police confirmed that valuables estimated at Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore were stolen from Nayyar's residence on January 19-20. Authorities plan to pursue stringent action, including invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), to dismantle the wider network Chanore operated within.
