Gujarat police arrest 8 for stealing gold worth ₹2.58 crore from Akasa Air cargo

Image for representational purposes only.

Eight persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a pre-planned extortion scheme to steal 2.1 kilograms of gold jewelery worth ₹2.58 crore from the cargo of Akasa Air in Ahmedabad, a police official said on Friday (May 22, 2026).

The investigation into the case began after seven parcels containing gold jewelery were sent from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Bengaluru through Sequel Logistics Company via Akasa Air on May 18 and one parcel containing 2.1 kilograms of gold went missing, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-4 Atulkumar Bansal said.

Investigation by Ahmedabad police using technical surveillance, CCTV footage etc. revealed the entire racket involving personnel at Akasa Air, he added.

Salemohammad alias Salam Mohammad Amin Ansari allegedly posed as a passenger on the same flight carrying the consignment, with Jayanti Patel pre-booking his ticket, the official said while explaining the modus operandi.

“Roshan Patel is in charge of housekeeping at Akasa Air while Jayesh Parmar is employed in the role of cargo handler. When the cargo was being loaded from Ahmedabad airport, Mr. Parmar allegedly created an obstruction in the cargo loading and moved the gold from the package to Salam Ansari’s bag,” the official said.

Mastermind Zaid Ansari, who works as the airline’s security in-charge, allegedly called a meeting of other loaders and conducted a check and search of them to facilitate Mr. Parmar’s mission, the police said.

“Salman Ansari brought the stolen gold to Ahmedabad and gave it to one Rizwan, who gave it to one Paresh, who converted the jewelery into gold bars. Paresh then handed over the gold bars to another individual, who later sold them to various jewelers in Rajkot and Ahmedabad,” the DCP said.

Eight persons were arrested for stealing 2.1 kg of gold jewelery worth ₹2.58 crore, while the police managed to recover ₹1.72 crore of the stolen property, he added.

Published – 22 May 2026 19:18 IST