A major theft case has shaken the jewellery manufacturing hub of Sonibazar in Rajkot, Gujarat, where an employee allegedly made off with gold ornaments valued at a staggering sum exceeding Rs 36 lakh. The incident has prompted a police investigation and raised concerns about security within local workshops.
Details of the Alleged Theft
According to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the A Division police station, the complainant, Soumen Samanta (50), a jewellery manufacturer, reported the disappearance of a significant quantity of gold. The accused has been identified as Ajay Malik, a resident of Hooghly district in West Bengal, who was employed at Samanta's workshop.
Samanta operates a three-storey jewellery manufacturing unit near Jumma Masjid Chowk in Sonibazar, which employs roughly 15 artisans. Malik had been working there for about five months, with a brief hiatus where he left citing his father's illness. He had rejoined the workshop approximately one-and-a-half months before the incident.
The Day of the Disappearance
The sequence of events leading to the theft began on December 10, when Malik was entrusted with 320 grams of 22-carat gold jewellery for engraving work. However, when Samanta arrived at the workshop on the morning of December 12, Malik was nowhere to be found. His mobile phone was also switched off, raising immediate alarm.
A review of the premises' CCTV footage proved crucial. The footage allegedly captured Malik removing the gold jewellery from a drawer at around 6:30 am on December 12 and subsequently leaving the workshop premises. The estimated market value of the stolen ornaments has been pegged at approximately Rs 36.40 lakh.
Police Complaint and Investigation
After repeated attempts to contact Malik through personal and local channels failed, Soumen Samanta had no option but to approach the Rajkot police to file a formal complaint. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to trace the accused employee and recover the stolen gold.
This incident highlights the vulnerabilities faced by businesses handling high-value materials and underscores the importance of stringent internal security checks, even for trusted employees. The Rajkot police are now on the lookout for Ajay Malik, whose sudden disappearance has left a trail of questions and a significant financial loss for the jewellery manufacturer.
