Port Blair: Two residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were arrested in Port Blair after a 24‑hour operation by the crime branch in connection with the Wanadongri jewellery shop robbery in Nagpur on October 3, national media reported.
Arrests in Port Blair linked to Nagpur heist
The two men identified as Mustakim Munir Ahmed, 34, and N Mohammed Sufyan N Sulaiman were taken into custody as part of an expanding probe into the daring daylight robbery in the MIDC area of Nagpur, which netted gold ornaments valued at ₹40 lakh, the report said.
Earlier stages of the investigation, according to the report, had led to the arrest of four suspects, including a Nagpur‑based accused, Rajan Sharma of Uttar Pradesh. The latest action in Port Blair follows forensic and CCTV leads that helped identify members of the gang.
Alleged role of accused from Andaman
Police investigators, as reported, allege that the connection to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands emerged while probing the gang's background and movements. The investigation reportedly uncovered that Mustakim, who is described in the report as a lawyer, had met members of the gang while they were lodged in Chennai Central Jail and assisted them in securing bail earlier.
According to the published account, after being released on bail, the gang — led by Rajan Sharma — planned the Wanadongri robbery and considered Mustakim a contact who could again help with bail arrangements if they were apprehended. On the day of the incident, Rajan allegedly summoned Mustakim to Hingna, promising to pay him ₹12 lakh towards bail expenses.
"Police are probing the full extent of the inter‑state conspiracy hatched behind bars and roles of the Andaman‑based accused,"
The report added that when the group fled immediately after the robbery, they possibly took Mustakim with them. Investigators are examining phone records, travel history and other evidence to establish the precise roles played by the Port Blair‑based accused and whether they were present at the scene or participated in planning from outside the mainland.
Investigation status and next steps
The probe remains active and expanding. Law enforcement agencies have so far relied on fingerprint matches and CCTV analysis to build the case that initially produced arrests on the mainland. With the two men now held in Port Blair, investigators are expected to coordinate with agencies in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to trace the sequence of events that led from contacts in jail to the execution of the heist.
- Incident: Wanadongri jewellery shop robbery, Nagpur, October 3
- Reported loot: ₹40 lakh in gold ornaments
- Amounts mentioned in probe: ₹12 lakh allegedly promised for bail expenses
The published reporting did not provide statements from Port Blair police or the Andaman and Nicobar administration at the time of publication, nor did it specify whether charges have been formally filed in the islands. Coordination between state police units and the crime branch is routinely required in cases with inter‑state dimensions, the report noted.
| Subject | Details reported |
|---|---|
| Arrested in Port Blair | Mustakim Munir Ahmed (34); N Mohammed Sufyan N Sulaiman |
| Main accused on mainland | Rajan Sharma (Nagpur; originally from Uttar Pradesh) |
| Valued loot | ₹40 lakh (gold ornaments) |
| Alleged bail payment promise | ₹12 lakh |
Local readers in Port Blair should expect further official updates as the case develops and as inter‑agency enquiries proceed. The investigation spans three jurisdictions named in the report — Maharashtra (Nagpur), Tamil Nadu (Chennai) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — and authorities will need to establish clear custody, charge sheets and possible transfers if prosecution follows.
At present, the published account attributes the Port Blair arrests and the alleged links to the wider Wanadongri robbery to reporting by national media; any formal charges or court proceedings involving the two men in the islands were not detailed in the report.
