MUMBAI: A delivery boy working for a jewellery manufacturing unit in MIDC, Andheri (East), has been arrested for allegedly staging a fake road accident so that his accomplices could make off with gold ornaments worth Rs 60. 65 lakhs.The jewellery, meant for a client barely a kilometre from his workplace, was to be delivered on June 6.The accused, Avinash Kadam (26), was unable to mislead the investigating officers, even after repeatedly pressing the hospital to keep him under medical administration for three days and to conduct tests to support his claim that he had suffered internal injuries, lost consciousness, and collapsed during the incident.MIDC police also detained Kadam’s associate, Manoj Jogdande (41), who is said to have assisted in carrying out the crime.Police said they recovered the entire stolen property from Jogdande. The items were reportedly concealed in the boot of his scooter, with some jewellery also located on the roof of his house and another portion hidden inside a flowerpot.“The closed circuit television and people statement from the spot helped the investigation team to zero in on the accident drama staged by Kadam.Investigators concluded that the incident was staged after reviewing CCTV footage, which showed he had acted out the entire accident sequence and theft story,” said a police officer of the MIDC police station.Investigators first tracked down Jogdande using CCTV footage. He was then identified via the criminal database, as he had previously been arrested in the city in cheating cases.“The duo has planned the theft. Accordingly, on June 6 when Kadam was assigned the job to deliver the jewellery bag on way he faked an accident where his two-wheeler met with an accident on the road, he fell unconscious, and the said jewelry was taken away.During the investigation, it was found that despite having no injuries in the said accident, he deliberately troubled doctors and insisted on remaining admitted to the hospital, thereby faking the accident and, along with his unknown accomplices, abducted the property entrusted to him for delivery,” said the police.Following a complaint by the inventory head of Gold Star Elite Jewellers, Kanchan Pawar (46), DCP Datta Nalawade oversaw the investigation team – ACP Gajanan Pawar, senior inspector Ravindra Wani, inspector Mahesh Gurav, sub inspector Kiran Parbat and staff.After reviewing numerous CCTV clips from the area, the team concluded that Kadam had arranged the false accident. “Jogdande was first nabbed and when questioned he confessed that they were friends and had conspired to commit the said crime,” said the police.An officer said doubts about Kadam grew after his seniors reported that he had claimed to have had an accident on the road towards Bhangargalli, and that a friend who answered his phone told them he had been taken to Kamgar Hospital for treatment.When his employer checked on his condition, doctors reportedly said he was stable and had no visible injuries. Kadam allegedly stated that while going to deliver the jewellery he felt dizzy and collided with a pick-up tempo parked near Bhangargalli, after which he became unconscious at the spot.He also told them he did not know where the jewellery bag had gone.
