Daijiworld Media Network – Panvel

Panvel, Jul 24: Alert surveillance by the Panvel Railway Police led to the arrest of an interstate train robber and the recovery of gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 26.31 lakh. The arrest also helped solve a railway theft case reported in Goa.

The accused, identified as Raghu Suman Khosla (41), a resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on July 17 after he alighted from the Mangala Lakshadweep Express at Panvel railway station.

According to police, the anti-theft surveillance team noticed Khosla behaving suspiciously while exiting an air-conditioned coach with a backpack. During a search, officers found a large quantity of gold and silver jewellery inside the bag, following which he was taken into custody.

Panvel Railway Police Inspector NB Yamgar said the recovery helped the department detect several railway theft cases. During interrogation, Khosla allegedly confessed to stealing passengers’ bags from AC coaches of long-distance trains.

Police said Khosla is a habitual offender with 39 theft cases registered against him across various states.

The arrest also helped crack a theft case registered by the Konkan Railway Police in Madgaon.

In the case, complainant Jeril Scaria had reported that his wife’s handbag containing gold and silver jewellery along with an iPhone was stolen while the family was travelling on the Netravati Express from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai to Kerala.

The theft had occurred while the passengers were asleep inside the train. Police investigations following Khosla’s arrest led to the detection of the Goa case and further probe is underway.