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Foreign currency seized from theft accused, complainant under scanner: Police

The Vadodara DCB, which has taken over the case of theft from the local city police, is now faced with ascertaining the source of the forex - currency notes of over 20 countries worth Rs 2.7 crore, recovered from the seven accused arrested in the theft case so far.

3 min readVadodaraJan 20, 2026 01:06 PM IST

Police display foreign currency worth Rs 2.7 crore recovered from accused in a Vadodara theft case initially reported as Rs 10 lakh.

RECOVERY OF Rs 2.7 crore in foreign currency from seven arrested accused in a curious case of theft – reported to be of value of Rs 10 lakh – has led the Vadodara City Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) on a trail to ascertain the source of the forex, including checking if the complainant – a gift shop owner – underreported the theft value “with intent”.

The Vadodara DCB, which has taken over the case of theft from the local city police, is now faced with ascertaining the source of the forex – currency notes of over 20 countries worth Rs 2.7 crore, recovered from the seven accused arrested in the theft case so far. Two other accused, including one of the two masterminds, is yet to be apprehended. The Vadodara DCB has also invoked sections pertaining to dacoity in the robbery case as the number of accused has crossed five.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshukumar Verma told The Indian Express on Monday that the recovery of foreign currency from the accused had come as a “surprise” to the police. Verma said that the complainant, Lilaram Revani, had “not specified” the items of theft but only stated that the value of the theft was Rs 10 lakh. The foreign currency includes the US, UK, Gulf, New Zealand, South East Asian countries and others.

“The arrest of a total of seven accused – including one mastermind – led us to the notes, which included foreign currency from over 20 countries. We have primarily found that the complainant was into a licensed business of forex trading a few years ago but currently, he has not produced any documents to state that he has a licence for the same…” Verma said.

With the panchnama of the crime underway, Verma said that Revani would soon be summoned for questioning. “He reported a theft of Rs 10 lakh without specifying forex or Indian currency… Therefore, either he or the accused will need to explain the source of the Rs 2.7 crore of forex currency of 20 countries. The question is whether the complainant willfully underreported the amount… and if so, why? We are conducting the panchnama and proceeding with the probe so that we have a clear picture within two days; two other accused, who are yet to be arrested, will also reveal details once they are in our custody,” Verma said

Executed after elaborate planning and “recce” by two of the nine accused booked in the case, the accused allegedly threw chilli powder in the eyes of the 67-year-old businessman and snatched a bag from his possession. while the complainant was returning home to Warasiya from his shop in Karelibaug as per his daily routine on Friday evening. The accused accosted Revani when he was parking his car and fled with his bag that had “Rs 10 lakh in cash”, as per the FIR registered at Warasiya police station.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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