Robbers left behind imitation jewellery

CHANDIGARH: The four robbers, who entered the jewellery shop at Mansa Devi Complex, knew their job pretty well, or so it seems, as they took away just original jewellery and left behind imitation jewellery priced between Rs 5000 and Rs 8,000.
The revelation has shifted the focus of investigation agencies toward the kingpin of the notorious gang of robbers involved in the Tanishq robbery worth Rs 12 crore.
According to sources, police officials believe that Paras Soni had also left behind artificial jewellery and decamped with precious gold and diamond ornaments from the Manimajra showroom in January 2011. He was acquitted for lack of evidence in January 2014.
Rajat Khanna confirmed with the TOI that all the jewellery left behind is artificial.
Meanwhile, in the ambit of suspicion is also a young girl from Amritsar, who had purchased a costly necklace and made its payment through cheque, which bounced five months ago.
"During all her visits to the shop, the girl had been accompanied by her male friend, who did not talk much, but observed the situation inside and outside the showroom. A civil litigation is also going on between the girl and the jewellery store owner over the bouncing of the cheque," a source said. A team of Panchkula police has already left for Amritsar to grill the girl in this regard.
Meanwhile, the investigation in the case received a blow on Tuesday as the digital video recorder (DVR) connected to CCTV cameras in the jewellery store was found to be not functioning properly. Police sources said assistance of a private computer expert is now being taken for extracting last 20 days' recording from the DVR.
Another similarity to SBOP robbery
Apart from putting helmets on their heads, the robbers had covered their faces with masks when they entered the jewellery shop in Mansa Devi Complex on July 13. This was confirmed by Anshi Khanna, father of the owner, during re-recording of his statement. This has prompted investigators to link the crime to the gang involved in the SBOP cash van robbery in Khuda Ali Sher on June 27.