High security as seven accused in Raniganj jewellery heist produced before Asansol court
Seven men accused of being part of an interstate dacoity gang involved in the June 2024 robbery at the Senco Gold showroom in Raniganj were produced before the Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge in Asansol on Thursday under heavy security, according to media reports and police statements.
The accused, who were arrested over the past months from locations including Krishnanagar, Burdwan, Suri and Asansol itself, appeared in court following transfers from different custodial centres. The court directed that all seven be produced again on 28 August, setting that date as the next judicial milestone in the case.
Police accounts of the original incident say the dacoity occurred on 9 June 2024 along the busy National Highway-14 in Raniganj. A police sub‑inspector posted nearby, identified in earlier reports as Meghnad Mondal, observed suspicious movement and fired his service revolver as two suspects came out of the showroom. One bullet is reported to have struck the gang leader, who collapsed. The remaining members reportedly used more powerful firearms and fled the scene, but the robbery was ultimately foiled.
Subsequent investigations led law-enforcement teams into forested areas of neighbouring Jharkhand where the seven suspects, including the injured leader, were tracked down and taken into custody. The case has been presented as part of a pattern of robberies attributed to the group at jewellery showrooms across several West Bengal districts over roughly the last two years.
- Date of alleged robbery: 9 June 2024
- Court produced: Seven accused
- Next court date: 28 August
Anticipating heightened public interest because of the case's profile and interstate nature, authorities fortified the Asansol court complex before the accused were brought in. A combined cordon of local police and CRPF personnel surrounded the court premises; a police dog squad was also deployed as part of the security arrangements. Law-enforcement officers said surveillance of surrounding areas was intensified from early morning to deter any untoward incident during transportation and production.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrests | Seven suspects, including alleged kingpin (injured) |
| Places of arrest | Locations including Krishnanagar, Burdwan, Suri and Asansol |
| Original incident site | Senco Gold showroom, Raniganj (NH-14) |
| Next production | 28 August |
"All seven accused were produced before the Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge and are to be produced again on 28 August," a police statement said, according to reports.
The matter remains in active judicial and investigative hands. Local residents and businesses in the Asansol–Raniganj industrial belt have followed the case closely because robberies targeting jewellery showrooms can have broader implications for commercial security and policing in the region.
Officials have not disclosed further details about charges to avoid prejudicing the judicial process; investigators continue to gather material evidence and testimony as the case proceeds. The next court appearance on 28 August will be watched by law-enforcement agencies and the public alike for developments in bail, custody and framing of formal charges.
Security arrangements around court complexes have come under focus in recent years in West Bengal as the scale and reach of some criminal gangs have expanded across district borders, prompting coordinated operations between state police and central forces.
As the proceedings unfold, the local administration has advised citizens to cooperate with police directives around the court area and follow traffic or access restrictions that may be imposed on production days to ensure public safety and order.
