On the run for a year, mastermind of sensational gold robbery arrested
Suryavanshi, who is known to be armed at all times, is alleged to have masterminded the gold heist and has been linked to as many as 35 cases of robbery and other offences across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.
After nearly a year on the run, the MRA Marg police have arrested a wanted accused and alleged mastermind of a sensational gold robbery and firing incident that took place in January last year. The accused, Kailash Mathuradas Suryavanshi alias KP (54), was arrested from Neral, and police recovered a pistol, five live rounds and gold ornaments worth Rs 13 lakh from his possession.
Suryavanshi, who is known to be armed at all times, is alleged to have masterminded the gold heist and has been linked to as many as 35 cases of robbery and other offences across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. During further investigation, police also found that he was wanted in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) at the Nagpada police station, said an officer.
According to the police, the complainant, Chirag Dhandukia, and his family run a jewellery business that also involves transporting gold ornaments to other states. In January last year, Dhandukia and two relatives were travelling to CSMT railway station to transport gold ornaments to Goa. They were riding two motorcycles and carrying the ornaments in two handbags. Dhandukia’s 16-year-old nephew was riding pillion on one of the bikes.
At around 10.30 pm, when the group reached the northbound stretch of P D’Mello Road near CSMT, four unidentified persons intercepted them and attempted to snatch a bag from the minor. When the boy resisted, one of the accused pulled out a firearm and fired two rounds at his leg. The attackers then fled with one of the two bags, which contained jewellery worth Rs 47.27 lakh.
A case was registered at the MRA Marg police station, following which teams were formed and CCTV footage was scrutinised. Within 24 hours, police arrested two accused, Kiran Dhanawade (47), a resident of Girgaon, and Haroon Noor Mohamed Madiya (45), a resident of Dongri, and recovered gold valuables worth Rs 16.5 lakh from them.
Further investigation led to the arrest of a third accused, Javed Majeed Shaikh (42), a resident of Panvel, who was apprehended from Delhi where he had been hiding. However, Suryavanshi continued to evade arrest by frequently changing locations across Maharashtra.
“Recently, police got a tip-off and a team rushed to Neral and once it was confirmed that he was hiding there he was arrested near Neral railway station and was brought to Mumbai,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Pravin Mundhe.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness.
Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai).
Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including:
Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust.
Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations.
Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events.
Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements.
Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
