Mumbai: police have arrested 27-year-old Nirmam Jogani for allegedly stealing diamonds and cash totaling Rs.3.05 crore from his father’s office in the city’s renowned Opera House area. The theft, which has sent shockwaves through the local business community, appears to stem from ongoing family disputes.
The Heist Unveiled
The DB Marg police registered the case following a complaint from diamond trader Vipul Jogani, 57, a resident of Lodha World Crest in Lower Parel. According to the complaint, someone accessed his office in the Panchratna Building at Opera House, Charni Road, opened the safe, and absconded with valuables, including two diamond sets.
“Valuables worth Rs.3.05 crore were stolen, along with crucial digital data stored in hard disks,” stated an officer from DB Marg Police Station. The stolen items comprised two diamond sets valued at Rs.2.30 crore and Rs.70 lakh respectively, Rs.5 lakh in cash, and two hard disks containing essential business information.
Investigation and Arrest
The police initiated an investigation by scrutinizing CCTV footage from the office and surrounding areas. The footage revealed that the perpetrator was none other than the complainant’s son, Nirmam Jogani. Consequently, authorities arrested him.
“During interrogation, it emerged that there were ongoing property disputes within the family, as Vipul has another son,” the officer disclosed. The investigation also uncovered that Nirmam had forged his father’s signature in a letter to the Bank of India, attempting to remove his father’s name from a joint account.
Motive Behind the Crime
Nirmam, recently married and having an elder brother, reportedly harbored grievances related to family property and financial matters. To execute the theft, he allegedly created duplicate keys for both the office and the safe.
“We are still questioning him to determine if there’s more to this incident than just property and financial disputes,” the officer added.
A Troubling Pattern
This case is not an isolated incident in Mumbai’s diamond industry. In recent times, there have been multiple reports of thefts and frauds involving significant sums:
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Employee Theft: In December 2024, a workshop employee was arrested for stealing diamonds worth Rs.1.47 crore from a Mumbai-based diamond businessman. The accused claimed he committed the theft to “teach a lesson” to the businessman and his son due to alleged mistreatment of workers.
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Father-Son Fraud Duo: In the same month, a diamond merchant in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex was duped of diamonds worth Rs.1.92 crore by a father-son duo. The accused, introduced to the merchant by a trusted broker, absconded with the diamonds after promising a lucrative deal.
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Long-Standing Evasion: In April 2024, a diamond dealer who had vanished six years prior with precious stones worth Rs.8 lakh was arrested in Uttar Pradesh. The arrest followed a meticulous investigation involving undercover operations and document scrutiny.
These incidents highlight the vulnerabilities within the diamond trading community and underscore the necessity for stringent security measures and thorough background checks in business dealings.
Conclusion
The arrest of Nirmam Jogani serves as a stark reminder of how personal grievances can escalate into significant criminal activities, even within families. As the investigation continues, authorities aim to uncover the full extent of the crime and any additional motives behind it. This case, alongside other recent incidents, emphasizes the critical need for trust, transparency, and robust security protocols in the high-stakes world of diamond trading.
