Surat: In  a twelfth-day condolence ceremony, a guest stole the mobile phone of a deceased man who recently died of cancer in Kapodra area of Surat. Later three lakh Rupees were transferred using Google Pay UPI app through stolen phone. It was revealed after probe, that the phone was stolen by deceased person’s childhood friend.

Police sources stated that Nikul Govind Gajera, from Jalaram Society in Nana Varachha area of Surat, passed away due to cancer on May 17. His twelfth-day  ceremony took place on May 28. A guest at the ceremony stole the deceased’s mobile phone from his widow, Ruchitaben. Following the theft, Nikulbhai’s brother, Narendra Bhai, filed a complaint with Kapodra police. Subsequently, three lakh rupees were illegally transferred from Nikulbhai’s bank account through mobile app. It led to suspicions that someone close to the family with knowledge of the deceased’s online banking details was involved.

Police Inspector MB Ausura of Kapodra Police Station investigated the case. The police traced the recipient of the funds as Sandip Vinu Desai, a childhood friend of the deceased. Surat police apprehended Sandip, recovered the stolen mobile phone, and retrieved the three lakh rupees transferred illegally. DeshGujarat