In a startling case that gripped Bhopal, police arrested Tulsiram, a man accused of stealing a brand-new Thar Roxx jeep worth ₹21 lakh after the sudden death of its owner, State Bank of India manager Sachin Gokhale. The theft wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act but a premeditated plan that unfolded in a series of bold moves and careless mistakes that ultimately led to his capture.
Tulsiram, who worked at a humble momos stall, saw an opportunity when he heard about Gokhale's passing. Knowing that the Thar was parked at Platinum Plaza, he devised a plan to take the vehicle for himself. He leveraged a personal connection — his brother, who worked at the SBI guest house where Gokhale had been staying — to secure the flat keys. Once inside the guest house, he found the vehicle's keys and made his move.
Disguising himself as someone acting on behalf of the deceased’s family, he confidently drove the vehicle away. When a security guard questioned him, he coolly lied, saying he was taking the jeep to Gokhale's family in Indore. The guard, believing his story, let him through without further questioning.
However, Gokhale's family, reeling from his unexpected death, soon noticed the vehicle missing and filed an FIR at the local police station. This launched an intensive investigation led by TT Nagar Station House Officer Sudhir Arajaria. Two teams were formed: one sifted through hours of CCTV footage from more than 35-40 cameras to trace the stolen vehicle’s movements, while the other team focused on interviewing residents and potential witnesses.
The breakthrough came when witnesses identified Tulsiram driving the jeep. With this crucial lead, police tracked his location, surrounded him, and successfully recovered the vehicle. During interrogation, Tulsiram confessed, detailing the entire sequence of events.
What emerged from his confession was a story that became even more bizarre. After stealing the Thar, Tulsiram decided to flaunt his "new ride" by taking it to his friend Shubham’s birthday party. The celebration turned reckless when he ended up crashing into a motorcyclist, damaging the jeep’s bumper. Undeterred, he took the car for repairs and began looking for buyers to sell the high-end vehicle. His plans unraveled when the police caught up with him before he could finalize a deal.
The police are now investigating whether Tulsiram acted alone or had accomplices, particularly examining the role of his brother, who helped him access Gokhale’s flat. Authorities are also probing if any garages knowingly assisted him with repairs, suspecting that someone might have looked the other way despite noticing the car's damage and missing documents.
The case has sparked a public conversation about the lengths people might go to in moments of desperation — and the meticulous police work required to untangle such crimes. Officer Arajaria praised his team for their unwavering efforts in piecing together the evidence, noting that the extensive CCTV analysis and ground-level inquiries played a pivotal role in cracking the case.
For Gokhale’s grieving family, while the recovery of the vehicle brings some closure, the loss of their loved one remains immeasurable. The incident stands as a reminder of how opportunistic crimes can unfold and how swift, coordinated police action can ensure justice prevails.
