Rs 11 Lakh Worth of Stolen Maggi Recovered in Bhopal; Three Suspects Arrested

Bhopal police have successfully solved an unusual heist involving 1,661 boxes of Maggi noodles worth Rs 11 lakh. The stolen consignment was recovered, and three individuals have been apprehended. The incident, which unfolded on December 4, involved a truck en route from Gujarat to Odisha.

The Crime Unfolds

Transport businessman Shabbir filed a complaint on December 9 after suspecting foul play. Shabbir became alert when he received a Fastag notification showing toll deductions in Bhopal, far from the intended route. Attempts to reach the truck driver, Raees Mian, failed until Raees claimed that he was intoxicated, and the truck was stolen.

Crucial CCTV Clue

CCTV footage at the 11 Meel bypass toll plaza in Bhopal provided the first breakthrough. While the truck was located, the Maggi consignment was missing. Authorities registered a case and announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to the recovery of the goods.

The Trail Leads to Bairagarh

During their investigation, police discovered the stolen goods stored in three depositories in the Bairagarh area. A suspect, Hitesh Moinani, was detained and confessed to purchasing the noodles. He revealed that he had bought the consignment for Rs 11 lakh from Kamlesh Gaur.

The Chain of Crime

Kamlesh Gaur, another key player, disclosed that he had purchased the stolen goods from the driver, Raees, for Rs 10 lakh. The noodles were then moved to Hitesh’s depositories, where they were stored. Police recovered 1,411 cartons of noodles, although 250 boxes had already been sold to local retailers.

Arrests Made, Driver on the Run

Three suspects, including Hitesh and Kamlesh, have been arrested. However, the truck driver, Raees Mian, remains at large. Authorities have launched a manhunt to track him down.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Sreelekshmi P/MSM)