Son of Long-Time Employee Flees with Gold Worth ₹70 Lakh

In a shocking breach of trust in Dhamtari, the son of a veteran craftsman is accused of absconding with jewelry worth over ₹70 lakh from a prominent local store. Jasraj Jain, the owner of Sancheti Jewelers, revealed that the suspect’s father, Chintamani Soni, had been a loyal worker for four decades. Because of this long-standing association, Jain often entrusted Hemant Soni with gold ornaments intended for customer showings and sales. This deep-rooted confidence turned into a nightmare when the suspect allegedly misappropriated a massive consignment of gold. The situation escalated when Hemant took possession of 13 gold necklaces, valued at nearly ₹51 lakh, on March 2, 2026, under the pretext of showing them to prospective clients. This was in addition to a previous outstanding debt of ₹19 lakh from transactions earlier in February. When Hemant failed to return the items and eventually switched off his mobile phone, the jeweler realized he had been victimized. The local police were immediately notified, and a case of criminal breach of trust and fraud was registered.