Samar Chavan, a 19‑year‑old resident of Satave village in Kolhapur’s Panhala tehsil, is accused of pilfering his uncle’s gold jewellery and turning it into a ₹10 lakh profit to buy a new Mahindra Thar.
Deputy Superintendent Shrikant Thikane said police traced the sale to local jeweller Sangram Babaso More, who helped transfer the gold into cash.
After the purchase, Chavan invited his uncle to perform a puja for the vehicle, only for the uncle to discover the missing ornaments during a pre‑puja check.
Chavan and More were taken into custody on October 25, 2026, and the case is slated for a hearing in the Kodoli Court next week.