Rutvik Makwana, a 26-year-old labourer known as Koli, is in custody after Bhavnagar’s Local Crime Branch (LCB) caught him peddling high-value gadgets without invoices near Gangajaliya Lake. The seizure, conducted on October 23, netted ₹4.60 lakh in stolen merchandise, including 13 mobile phones, smartwatches, and luxury perfumes. Police seized the goods after Makwana failed to produce any purchase receipts or proof of ownership during a routine check on the Motibaug Road embankment.
The LCB traced the items back to Flipkart parcels meant for customers in Surat district. Makwana allegedly intercepted the delivery bags, pocketed the contents, and skipped the actual drop-off. The haul includes a Google Pixel 10 A, a Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, and a Vivo T5 Pro 5G, alongside an iPhone 17 Pro Max back cover and Apple AirPods. He sold the items on the black market, stripping the products of their original packaging to obscure their origin.
Police registered the case at Saroli police station in Surat under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which covers dishonest misappropriation of property. The accused resides in Raj Mandir Paan Wala lane near Hussaini Chowk in Akhlol Jakatnaka. Investigators are now cross-referencing the serial numbers of the seized electronics with Flipkart’s internal delivery logs to identify which specific customers lost their packages.
The case highlights a persistent vulnerability in last-mile delivery systems, where lone couriers handle high-value goods with minimal real-time tracking. Police are continuing their investigation to determine if Makwana acted alone or if other staff members were complicit in the diversion. He will remain in police custody as the legal team prepares the charge sheet.