Pune: A 15-year-old boy from Yerawada was forced to steal 84 tolas (approximately 980 grams) of gold jewelry worth ₹25.2 lakh from his home after being threatened with death by three individuals.
Following a complaint by the victim’s 42-year-old businessman father, Yerawada Police arrested three accused Rohit Navnath Ovhal (29), Rehan Shabbir Qureshi (25), and Stephen John Shirsat (19). The incident, which unfolded between November 2024 and March 23, 2025, highlights the alarming misuse of intimidation and psychological coercion against minors.
The investigation revealed that the boy knew one of the accused, as they were from the same neighborhood and frequently visited each other's homes. Using this acquaintance, the accused initially coerced the boy into stealing small amounts of cash, ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000, from his family’s shop.
As the boy began to avoid the shop, the accused escalated their threats, warning him that they would kill him and his family if he did not comply. Fearful for his life, the minor was eventually forced to steal 84 tolas of gold jewelry in multiple instances and hand it over to the accused.
Gold Pledged and Sold for Cash
Further investigations revealed that one of the accused pledged the stolen gold to secure a loan, while the other two sold the jewelry to third parties in exchange for cash.
Yerawada Police, under the supervision of Senior Inspector Ravindra Shelke, has launched an extensive investigation, with Assistant Inspector Vishal Takle leading the case. Authorities are also working to recover the stolen gold and identify any additional individuals involved in the sale of the stolen property.