Dubai-Mumbai Flight Theft: 1.5 Kg Gold, ₹1.95 Crore Cash And UAE Dirhams Allegedly Stolen From 67-Year-Old Surat Businessman

A 67-year-old former garment businessman from Surat, Abdul Rajjak Umarbhai Sodagar, filed a complaint with the Mumbai police alleging that two men stole 1.5 kg of gold, ₹1.95 crore in cash and 1.28 lakh UAE dirhams from him during a Dubai-Mumbai flight. Sodagar, who had been operating a garment business in Surat but had shut it down for the past four months, was looking for a new business opportunity.

He met Mohammad Asif, a resident of Kerala, while travelling to Dubai for his garment business two years ago. Asif told Sodagar about his involvement in the purchase and sale of gold and other businesses and suggested a partnership. Sodagar, who did not have sufficient funds to invest, approached a gold businessman in Gujarat who agreed to provide him credit to purchase gold in Dubai.

On August 12, Sodagar travelled to Dubai and bought 1.5 kg of gold, which he claimed was legal. On August 15, while returning to India on Emirates flight EK508, Sodagar received a call from Asif informing him that Niyas Mohammad Katumadthil, someone Sodagar trusted, was travelling on the same flight. Sodagar kept his black-coloured bag containing the gold in the overhead luggage compartment.

After landing in Mumbai, Niyas allegedly helped him carry the bag. However, when Sodagar went to declare the gold, Niyas left with the bag, leaving Sodagar to learn later that Niyas had entered the departure area with a Bengaluru flight ticket, followed by another man, Mohammad Harris Thambuthodi. Sodagar alleged that the three men had conspired to steal the valuables during the flight and lodged a complaint with the police a few days later.