Two Inter-State IPL Mobile Thieves Arrested in Ahmedabad; Phones Recovered
Two Jharkhand men arrested for IPL mobile theft in Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad Police have arrested two members of an inter-state mobile theft gang targeting crowded venues during the Indian Premier League (IPL), seizing 21 stolen mobile phones and other valuables. The operation was carried out near Kalupur railway station by the City Zone-3 team under DCP Rupal Solanki, following intelligence inputs.
The arrested suspects, identified as Raghu Mahto and Vikram Mahto, reportedly traveled from Jharkhand by flight to target fans near metro exits, stadium gates, and other transit hubs during IPL matches. Police recovered stolen phones, travel documents, Aadhaar cards, and flight tickets as evidence.
DCP Solanki described the gang’s method as highly sophisticated. “The moment the accused snatches a mobile, it disappears instantly hidden inside a specially designed vest. There is no second glance, no suspicion,” she said, noting that the operation allowed them to work unnoticed even in densely packed crowds. The gang had previously executed similar thefts, including outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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After stealing devices, the gang reportedly wrapped phones in silver foil to block signals and prevent traceability. If a phone was unlocked, it could be used for financial fraud, including accessing payment apps and transferring funds within minutes. Police have so far registered 12 offences, though several victims remain unidentified due to missing ownership records.
The gang’s structure reportedly involved three layers: one person executed the theft, another relayed the device, and a third secured the stash 100–200 meters away, making recovery difficult. Phones were then transported to villages in Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district to be sold, dismantled, or circulated in informal markets, leaving minimal digital evidence.
Authorities said one accomplice is still at large and may have played a central role in thefts during both Bengaluru and Ahmedabad matches. Police investigations are ongoing to identify additional links within the interstate network.
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