The Byculla police have booked Dahisar-based jewellery artisan Shabbir Ali Mondal, 35, for allegedly stealing gold bars weighing 1.09 kg worth over Rs 1.6 crore. A Mazagaon-based jewellery designer entrusted Mondal with the gold to manufacture antique bangles due to their long-standing professional trust. However, Mondal allegedly shut down his workshop and went missing before delivering the finished jewellery. 

On July 1, the complainant handed over gold bars weighing 110.430 grams worth Rs 15,86,879 lakh through Mondal’s manager under a Karigar Issue Voucher (a document used in jewellery manufacturing and job-work to legally track raw materials). The next day, he allegedly entrusted another 987.530 grams worth Rs 1,44,17,600 crore under a separate voucher.