Tech-savvy RPF-GRP cracks Rs 65 lakh theft case in Shivnath Express, nabs accused from Odisha using CCTV and data trail

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the South East Central Railway (SECR) has apprehended two individuals from Rourkela, Odisha, in connection with the theft of valuables worth Rs 65 lakh from an AC coach of the Shivnath Express travelling between Rajnandgaon and Durg.According to the SECR, on April 4, 2025, Hina Dinesh Bhai Patel lodged a complaint with the GRP police station in Raipur. She reported that during her journey from Gondia to Raipur on train number 18240, Shivnath Express, coach HA1, berth number 21, her purse was stolen by an unidentified person between Rajnandgaon and Durg. The stolen items included diamond jewellery, Rs 45,000 in cash, and a mobile phone, collectively valued at Rs 65 lakh.Based on her complaint, a case under Section 305 (C) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at GRP Bhilai, Chowki Durg, on 4 April 2025, and an investigation was initiated. The Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF/Raipur, formed a special task team led by M. K. Mukherjee, Inspector, Crime Intelligence Branch, Bhilai, to investigate and solve the case. The task team meticulously examined all aspects of the crime. Utilizing technical resources, they scrutinized CCTV footage from stations at Itwari, Gondia, Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, Durg, Bhilai Power House, Bhilai, Raipur, Bhatapara, and Bilaspur, as well as footage from the coach of the Shivnath Express. Suspects identified in the footage were shown to the complainant for identification, and informers were activated to gather intelligence. Simultaneously, the reservation charts were analysed, and information gathered from informers led to the identification of certain individuals. Their names and activities were subsequently verified. The RPF team reviewed and analysed numerous days' reservation charts to understand the modus operandi of the accused. Approximately 50 hotel records, registers, and CCTV footage were also checked. After persistent efforts, it was discovered that two suspects were staying at Hotel Sawariya in Raipur. Records obtained from the hotel identified the two suspects as Abdul Mannan, aged approximately 54 years, residing at Plant Side Qureshi Mohalla, Rourkela, district Sundargarh (Odisha), and Santosh Sao, aged 38 years, residing at Madhusudan Mall, Plant Side Qureshi Mohalla, Rourkela, district Sundargarh (Odisha). On 25 April 2025, the RPF task team received information about the suspects' presence in Rourkela. The RPF shared precise and detailed information with the Superintendent of Police (Rail), Raipur. Based on this information, both accused were apprehended by the police on May 7, 2025.