Surat: A rare heart-shaped diamond weighing 10.08 carats, valued at Rs 4.55 crore, was stolen from a trader’s office on June 24 and found 500 km away from Surat. The diamond was discovered hidden under an earthen stove (Chula) in the village of Sirhoi district, Rajasthan.

The theft happened with Chirag Shah owner of Akshat Gems, when the main accused, Hitesh Purohit, swapped the diamond with a lab-grown one valued significantly less than the original on June 24.

Mahidharpura police had formed five teams, one of which found the original diamond concealed in the earthen stove at the residence of co-accused Suresh Purohit in the village of Bant, Sirhoi district. Hitesh’s relative named Dalpat, who received the diamond from Suresh, has been arrested, while other accused remain at large.

In his modus operandi, Hitesh contacted Shah and his son through brokers and expressed interest in purchasing the diamond. Negotiations began on June 8 and continued until June 24, during which Hitesh orchestrated the theft by creating a lab-grown diamond identical in shape, weight, and color. On June 24, during a meeting at his office in Mahidharpura, Hitesh replaced the original diamond with the lab-grown one while inspecting it. He then left on the pretext of withdrawing money from a safe vault and promptly fled the city, disabling his mobile phone.

The police launched an investigation, deploying one team to Hitesh’s native village, Umedpura in Banaskantha, and another to Mumbai, where his brother resides. Another team was sent to Bant village where Hitesh’s relatives live. During the investigation, Dalpat revealed the location of the diamond. Police excavated the fireplace and recovered the hidden diamond. Three more individuals, namely Ishwar Purohit, Kamlesh Purohit, and Suresh Purohit, are being searched for by the police. DeshGujarat