The Nagpur Crime Branch has arrested a man who allegedly resorted to chain-snatching to pay monthly maintenance to his divorced wife as mandated by a court order. According to police, the accused, who has been unemployed for two years, confessed to the crimes, stating it was his only means to comply with the court’s directive. A jeweler who purchased the stolen gold has also been taken into custody.
The matter came to light following a chain-snatching incident on February 22 in the Beltarodi area of Nagpur. The victim, 74-year-old Jayashree Jaikumar Gade, reported that her chain had been stolen. The Beltarodi Police initiated an investigation, which was subsequently taken up by the Crime Branch.
During the course of the investigation, inquiries led the joint team of the Crime Branch and local police to identify a suspect named Kanhaiya, a resident of Mankapur, Nagpur. Upon his arrest, the police interrogated him regarding the incident.
During questioning, the accused confessed to his involvement in the crime. He disclosed to the police that he had been unemployed for the past two years. He stated that he was recently divorced and the court had ordered him to pay a monthly maintenance sum of ₹6,000 to his ex-wife. The accused claimed that in order to arrange this money every month, he began committing chain-snatching.
He admitted to his involvement in two separate chain-snatching incidents. He further revealed that he sold the stolen chains to AmarDeep Krishnarao Nakhate, the owner of Shri Sai Jewellers.
Based on this confession, the police have also arrested the shop owner, AmarDeep Nakhate, and registered an FIR against him for receiving stolen property.
Confirming the details of the case, Nagpur Crime Branch Officer Mangala Harde stated, “The accused is divorced and had remarried during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court had ordered him to pay ₹6,000 per month as maintenance to his first wife. After snatching the chains, he would sell the gold, and from the proceeds, he would send ₹6,000 to his first wife.”
The police have seized a motorcycle and a mobile phone from the primary accused. A recovery of 10 grams of gold was made from the jeweler. The total value of the seized property is estimated to be approximately ₹1,85,000. Both accused have been handed over to the Beltarodi Police Station for further legal proceedings.
