Police dog: The cops have detained Budha Solanki and his accomplice Vikram Solanki, both locals of Saragvala village in Dholka taluka.
In a remarkable case in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad district, a police dog named Penny, a Dobermann, played a crucial role in solving a theft of ₹1.07 crore, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
The suspects, identified as Budha Solanki and his accomplice Vikram Solanki, were apprehended after Penny helped track them down. The entire stolen amount was recovered, police officials told PTI.
The Theft
The incident began when a 52-year-old farmer from a village near the Lothal archaeological site sold a piece of land, receiving ₹1.07 crore in the transaction.
Planning to purchase another piece of land, the farmer stored the cash in two plastic bags and hid them inside his kutcha (mud) house on October 10.
On October 12, while the farmer was away in Tarapur, Anand district, for some work, thieves broke into his house by removing bricks near a window and stole the bags containing the money.
The Investigation
Upon discovering the theft the following day, the farmer reported the crime to the Koth police. Sub-inspector PN Gohil explained that the police began questioning 30 suspects, including 14 individuals with criminal records, to identify the culprits.
Penny, the police dog, was brought in to assist in the investigation and was instrumental in tracing the route taken by the thieves.
Breakthrough by Penny
On Thursday, Penny stopped at a location near Budha Solanki’s house, raising suspicions as Budha was already on the police’s radar due to his knowledge of the cash. When Budha was lined up with other suspects, Penny lingered near him, confirming the police’s suspicion.
A subsequent raid on Budha’s house led to the recovery of ₹53.9 lakh. During interrogation, Budha confessed to the theft and revealed Vikram’s involvement. The remaining amount was found at Vikram’s residence.
Arrests and Confession
According to the police, Budha, aware that the farmer would be out of town, hatched the plan with Vikram to steal the money. After the theft, they divided the stolen cash equally and returned to their homes. Both were arrested on charges of theft and trespass.
The swift resolution of this case highlights the effectiveness of the police investigation and Penny’s remarkable tracking abilities.
