Detained in Delhi, not arrested in Ahmedabad: Theft accused tells Gujarat high court

SLUG: Rs 1.66cr gold theft

Ahmedabad: The sales executive accused of stealing gold jewellery worth Rs 1.66 crore from a jewellery showroom in Nikol has moved the Gujarat high court, claiming that crime branch officers had illegally detained her, robbed her of her personal jewellery and cash, and falsely showed that she was arrested in Ahmedabad.

Harshida Shetty, the accused in the high-value jewellery theft case, has challenged the police version of events and sought a court-monitored inquiry into the conduct of the investigating officers.

Appearing before the high court, Shetty’s counsel argued that the crime branch’s claim that she was arrested on May 19 from the Manek Chowk area of Ahmedabad while allegedly attempting to sell the stolen jewellery was false. According to the petition, Shetty was actually detained three days earlier, on May 16, from a hotel room in Delhi.

The petition alleges that crime branch officers entered her hotel room and searched her without the presence of a female police officer and without lawful authority. During the operation, the officers allegedly took away the gold ornaments she was wearing along with cash in her possession.

Her lawyer further submitted that after being detained, Shetty was taken to a location on the Jaipur highway, where she was allegedly forced to consume certain substances, following which she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she found her clothes scattered, submitted the lawyer, adding that after being brought to Ahmedabad, the jewellery allegedly taken from her during detention was shown by investigators as recovered muddamal (case property), and her arrest was subsequently projected as having taken place in Manek Chowk.

Seeking to substantiate her claims, Shetty has requested the HC to order preservation of CCTV footage from the Delhi hotel and surrounding areas. Her counsel argued that the footage could establish that she was detained in Delhi and not arrested in Ahmedabad as claimed by the police.

The development comes days after a metropolitan court rejected a similar application filed by Shetty last week, after her police remand got over. The lower court said that Shetty had not disclosed any of these facts when asked whether she faced any ill-treatment at the hands of the police.

Hearing the matter, Justice M R Mengdey sought the investigation papers. The court said, “Learned APP to produce the report from the concerned investigating officer on the next date of hearing.” Further hearing has been posted on June 25.