Surat diamond heist of ₹32.5 crore turns out to be insurance fraud: Police

Surat: Surat police have uncovered an insurance fraud plot behind the reported robbery of diamonds worth ₹32.48 crore and ₹5 lakh in cash from a unit in the Kapodara area, on Wednesday.

Police said the heist was staged by diamond trader Devendrakumar Chaudhary, who planned the fake burglary to claim insurance money. Chaudhary, his son Ishan, and two drivers, Vikas Bishnoi and Ramjeevan Bishnoi, have been arrested.

Investigators recovered ₹2.40 lakh in cash, four mobile phones, a gas cylinder and a cutter used in the operation.

According to police, Chaudhary conspired with his son and driver Vikas to stage the robbery, later roping in Hanumanram Bishnoi about two weeks before the incident. Chaudhary allegedly promised ₹20 lakh to the participants to carry out the plan.

On August 16, the group made their first attempt at the diamond godown but failed. The next night, armed with a gas cutter, the accused carried out the burglary and reported it as a theft.

Police said the staged robbery was exposed during the investigation, leading to the arrests.