The Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a security guard who had allegedly stolen diamond-studded jewellery,gold ornaments and some electronic items worth Rs 3.5 crore from a jewellery chains office in Malad last month. The police have recovered the entire loot,except for four rings. The accused has been identified as Balbheem alias Rajesh alias Sonu Chennale (22),a native of Kerurgaon in Bhalki taluka of Karnatakas Bidar district. He was arrested from Subhash Nagar in MIDC,Andheri (East),by Unit 10 of the Crime Branch and was handed over to the MIDC police for further investigations. According to the police,on May 16,a complaint was lodged with the MIDC police that diamond-studded jewellery,gold ornaments,a laptop and a digital camera worth Rs 3.5 crore had been robbed the previous night from the Geetanjali Gems and Jewellers office. The Crime Branch began parallel investigations and about 20 days ago Unit 10 got some leads and conducted investigations in Mumbai,Pune and Bidar,leading to the arrest of Chennale, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Nisar Tamboli. Chennale,who has a diploma in fine arts,came to Mumbai and began working as a security guard in 2009. In April this year,he joined Industrial Security Association in Goregaon which provides security to the office that he looted. Chennale had only worked at the office for four days when he decided to carry out the robbery, said Tamboli. According to the police,on May 15,the jewellery companys Ahmedabad office closed and the ornaments were shifted to Mumbai around 7.30 pm. However,since the companys godown had already closed in the city,the diamonds were stored in the administrative office for the night. The keys to the office were with the guard. Chennale did not intend to carry out such a major robbery,but when he saw a wooden cupboard with a board stating do not open,he used a screwdriver to open it and found the jewellery, said Tamboli. According to the police,Chennale fled to Pune and then to Bidar in an attempt to sell the loot. However,when he didnt find any buyer,he came back to Mumbai to sell the jewellery.
