Samar Chavan, 19, broke into his uncle Umesh Maruti Chavan’s home in Kolhapur district on May 28 2026, lifting 150 grams of gold jewellery that had been stored in a safe.
The gold was sold in a nearby shop for ₹10 lakh, a figure that matched the price of a brand‑new Mahindra Thar. Chavan paid the dealer in cash, then drove the SUV to a local garage where he had it polished and fitted with a custom paint job.
DSP Shrikant Thikane led the investigation, following a tip that the family had noticed the safe’s contents were missing just before the uncle’s puja preparations. When Chavan was brought in for questioning, he confessed to the theft and the purchase, citing a desire to impress his peers.
Umesh Maruti Chavan reported the theft to the police after discovering the missing jewellery. The police seized the Thar and arrested both Chavan and the goldsmith who had bought the jewellery, securing the vehicle as evidence.
The case will be heard in the Kolhapur Municipal Court next month, where prosecutors will seek a custodial sentence and restitution of the stolen gold. The family plans to appeal for a stay of the vehicle’s sale, hoping to recover the value of the gold they lost.