Pune: In a well-coordinated effort, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and Local Crime Branch (LCB) successfully cracked a high-profile theft case within two days, recovering stolen property worth ₹35.45 lakh.
The incident took place aboard the Indore–Daund Express on 20th June 2025. A 73-year-old passenger from Indore discovered her handbag had vanished around 7:30 am as the train was approaching Lonavala. The handbag contained an assortment of expensive items, including a diamond bracelet, a diamond necklace, several gold rings, a gold wristwatch, a gold chain, and ₹50,000 in cash — altogether valued at around ₹40 lakh.
The woman and her husband were headed to Lonavala to take part in a religious Bhagwat program. After having dinner, they had gone to sleep, with the handbag tucked carefully under her arm. On realizing the theft, she immediately reached out to the Indian Railways helpline at 139 and lodged a complaint at the Lonavala GRP, where an FIR was quickly registered.
Promptly mobilizing into action, teams were dispatched across multiple stations on the train’s route — Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Nagda, Ratlam, Surat, Vasai Road, Kalyan, and Lonavala — and all available CCTV footage was examined.
Authorities zeroed in on a suspicious individual who had gotten off at Kalyan and appeared to be loitering nervously in the station. Investigations revealed him to be Mahesh Arun Ghag, alias Vicky, a repeat offender from Chembur who had been out on bail for just 15 days.
Following a raid at his home, all stolen items were recovered intact and immediately handed back to the rightful owner.
This speedy and efficient resolution underscores the commitment of the Indian Railways and Maharashtra police to safeguarding passengers. The officials also advise travelers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior by contacting railway authorities or the 139 helpline.
