Ahmedabad Burglary: Rajasthan Man Arrested for Rs 38 Lakh Theft to Fund Sarpanch Election

A burglary case in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad has taken an unexpected political turn after police arrested a Rajasthan resident accused of stealing valuables to finance his bid in an upcoming village sarpanch election.

Crime Branch officials confirmed the arrest of Dinesh Meena in connection with a house break-in reported in January. Authorities recovered stolen gold and silver jewellery valued at approximately ₹38 lakh.

Break-In at Locked Residence

The theft occurred in the Ghatlodia area when the homeowner’s family travelled to Rajkot for a family function. During their absence, burglars allegedly accessed the locked residence by removing a ventilation grill on the terrace.

The suspects escaped with jewellery initially estimated at over ₹13 lakh. Subsequent investigation and recovery operations revealed the total value of stolen items to be significantly higher.

After the complaint was filed, police launched an extensive probe, reviewing footage from more than 200 CCTV cameras across multiple routes in the neighbourhood.

CCTV Trail Leads Police to Rajasthan

Footage analysis showed three men arriving on a motorcycle and fleeing shortly after the burglary. Investigators tracked the vehicle number, leading them to identify one suspect as a habitual offender.

Police teams travelled to Rajasthan and arrested Dinesh Meena. During interrogation, officials learned that Meena travelled to Ahmedabad with associates Kamlesh and Ishwar.

According to investigators:

• Kamlesh and Ishwar entered the house and carried out the theft.

• Meena assisted in planning and logistics.

• The trio conducted reconnaissance for two days before selecting the target.

All three accused are from the same village in Rajasthan and were familiar with the Ahmedabad locality, having previously lived there.

Habitual Offender Among Absconding Accused

Police said Kamlesh has a criminal history and is wanted in multiple cases. Both Kamlesh and Ishwar remain absconding, and search operations are ongoing to locate and arrest them.

Authorities believe the suspects fled Rajasthan after the arrest.

Political Motive Behind the Crime

Investigators revealed that the burglary was allegedly planned to fund expenses for the upcoming sarpanch elections in the accused’s native village.

Police said the stolen money and valuables were intended to support campaign spending aimed at defeating a rival candidate.

Officials described the crime as premeditated, noting that the suspects surveyed locked houses before targeting the Ghatlodia residence.

Police Recover Stolen Property

The Crime Branch confirmed that stolen gold and silver ornaments worth ₹38 lakh have been recovered.

Officials credited extensive CCTV analysis and coordinated interstate operations for the breakthrough.

Search efforts continue to apprehend the remaining accused and recover any additional stolen property.