Dewas police have arrested three people and recovered 400 stolen smartphones valued at around Rs 1.5 crore, exposing a mobile theft network operating across five states and 22 districts. Police also seized Rs 6 lakh in cash and are investigating whether phones collected in Indore were routed abroad through other agents.
The investigation began after Somesh Joshi, a 28-year-old resident of Jaishree Nagar in Dewas, reported that his Android phone had been stolen while he was having breakfast at a food outlet on AB Road on September 13. A case was registered at Kotwali police station on September 15 under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Dewas Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlot said CCTV footage from two mobile theft cases helped investigators identify suspects. The inquiry then expanded from the alleged street-level thefts to people suspected of collecting, purchasing and selling stolen devices across multiple states.
The arrested accused have been identified as Manish Pardi, 26, of Khalayda village in Ujjain district and currently residing in Alwasa under Indore’s Banganga police station; Suraj Singh Pardi, 30, also from Khalayda; and Shubham Rathore, 28, of Transport Nagar and Rishi Palace in Indore. Police have identified Rathore as the alleged main receiver of the stolen phones.
According to the police investigation, the accused targeted crowded markets, railway stations and other public places. Investigators first traced Manish Pardi, who allegedly disclosed contact with a person in Dwarkapuri through a WhatsApp number. When the number was switched off, police used Internet Protocol Detail Records analysis to identify Rathore’s number.
A search of Rathore’s house led to the recovery of smartphones of several brands, including Android devices and iPhones, along with the cash. Police said Rathore had travelled to Bengal, Bihar and Nepal during the previous six to seven months. Although he reportedly worked as a halwai, investigators are examining his movements and contacts to establish the wider network.
The suspected network has links to locations in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Daman. The places named by police include Dewas, Indore, Ujjain, Dhar and Chhatarpur; Mumbai-Thane, Nashik, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ahilyanagar; Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Navsari and Dahej; and Jaipur and Ajmer.
Police said stolen phones were transported through different channels to Rathore in Indore, where they were allegedly collected and arranged for further illegal sale. Investigators have also found information suggesting that some devices may have been supplied abroad through other agents. Rathore is currently on remand while police question the accused about the suspected international route and other people involved.
The recovered devices are being verified against original theft complaints to establish their ownership and trace the complete supply chain. Police records show eight previous cases against Rathore, including theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, an Arms Act case and cases involving assault and intimidation. Suraj Singh has two previous cases registered at Ghatiya police station in Ujjain, while Manish Pardi has a previous Arms Act case registered at Raghvi police station in Ujjain.
Dewas police have advised residents to remain alert with mobile phones and other valuables in crowded public places. They have also cautioned people against buying second-hand phones from unknown sellers without checking ownership and obtaining a valid bill. People who lose a phone have been asked to report the theft immediately, use the Sanchar Saathi portal to block the device and report suspicious activity through Dial-112. Police said the investigation would continue as devices and alleged supply links are verified.
