Three Weddings, Three Thefts: ₹65 Lakh Worth of Jewellery and Cash Disappear in Separate Prayagraj Celebrations third Reported from Aligarh
In two separate wedding ceremonies held in Prayagraj (Allahabad), brazen thieves left families devastated after jewellery and cash worth a combined ₹65 lakh vanished, triggering chaos, police action, and a local jurisdiction dispute.
Case 1: Railway Engineer’s Daughter’s Wedding Hit by ₹45 Lakh Theft
A high-profile wedding at Pankhudi Garden in George Town turned chaotic on Saturday night when a bag containing ₹30 lakh in gold jewellery and ₹15 lakh in cash was stolen in full public view — an act clearly captured on CCTV.
The ceremony was being held for the daughter of a senior railway engineer. The bag, entrusted to the engineer’s advocate brother, had been placed for only a few seconds on a chair while he greeted arriving guests. When he looked back, the bag had disappeared.
Police reviewed CCTV footage and found a young man executing the theft with calculated ease.
Footage shows him removing his blazer, casually placing it over the bag, then lifting both together and walking out without attracting attention.
Additional surveillance cameras captured him boarding an e-rickshaw toward Prayagraj Junction and later moving through the railway’s Mall Godown Colony.
A formal case has been registered, and police have launched a search operation to trace the suspect.
Case 2: ₹20 Lakh Jewellery and Cash Stolen From Guest House Wedding in Jhunsi
On the same night, another wedding held at a guest house in Andawa, Jhunsi, also fell victim to theft. A bag containing ₹20 lakh worth of gold jewellery, including chains, rings, bracelets, and a purse with ₹2.5 lakh in cash, went missing.
The valuables belonged to the family of a resident of Naika Mohin, whose daughter was getting married at an event hosted in RP Lawn.
The mother of the bride, who was carrying the bag, reported that the theft occurred when she was momentarily distracted.
CCTV footage revealed a surprising suspect — a young girl seen lingering around the family and eventually walking away with the purse.
Following the discovery, the bride’s family created an uproar, accusing the guest house staff of negligence. Amid the commotion, the manager was allegedly assaulted by some family members. He later approached the police, claiming he had been beaten.
However, a jurisdiction dispute between Jhunsi and Sarai Inayat police stations delayed the filing of a formal case. Officials on both sides initially denied receiving a complaint, further aggravating tensions.
Growing Pattern of Wedding Thefts Raises Concerns
The two back-to-back incidents underscore a troubling rise in organised and opportunistic thefts targeting large gatherings, especially weddings, where crowds and distractions create ideal conditions for criminals.
Police in both cases are examining leads, tracking CCTV footage across adjoining areas, and verifying possible coordination, although no link between the two thefts has been established yet.
The shaken families, meanwhile, hope fothe r swift recovery of their stolen valuables and stronger security measures at such public venues.
Meanwhile, in another sensational incident, an unidentified thief stole a suitcase carrying jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh from a Naib Tehsildar’s daughter in Aligarh district of the state.
The thief has been caught stealing the suitcase on CCTV camera, with police launching a manhunt to nab the culprit.
The incident took place in the Chandra Garden area under the Sasni Gate police station limits of the district on Sunday.
A police official said that the thief, who had entered the wedding party, carried out the crime by impersonating a member of the bride’s party.
It is learnt that on Sunday evening, the wedding ceremony was organised in a guest house located at Mathura Road, Police Station, Sasni Gate.
