The Missing Diamonds Case

In late September 2019, Jeet Thakur Sahai went to Shimla for a four day training course. He stayed at the Jayant Minhas Hotel.

After the first day’s training, Jeet returned to the hotel. He saw some police officers there. He introduced himself and told the chief investigator, Inspector Nitin Luthra, that he would like to help out if possible. He had figured out that the police officers had come there to conduct an investigation.

Inspector Nitin: “Well, five diamonds have been missing from room 209 since this morning. The guest there is Mr. Prem Nigam.”

Jeet: “Well Inspector, have you sealed the hotel?”

Inspector Nitin: “Yes, with Manager Henry Fernandes’ help, we have sealed the hotel.”

Jeet: “OK, I would like to do some searching on my own. Can I please see room 209?”

Henry: “Yes, of course.”

Inspector Nitin and Jeet searched room 209 extensively. Jeet did not find anything in the room except a few samosa remains near the fridge. He asked Mr. Nigam if he ordered some food the previous night. Mr. Nigam mentioned he had ordered dinner the previous night; he had ordered three plates of samosas, a paneer curry and a mango lassi drink. Each plate had two samosas. Upon further questioning he mentioned that he ate three samosas and ended up leaving the other samosas. When the room service waiter had come to take his plates away Mr. Nigam had gone to the washroom for a few minutes. He forgot to hide his diamonds as they were in a small blue silk bag. The waiter had checked the bag quickly and placed the diamonds in the leftover samosa pieces and took away all the remaining plates and food.

Mr. Nigam was very worried when he returned from the washroom. He thought as his hotel room door was open for a few minutes anyone could have come in and stolen the diamonds. The room delivery

The room service waiter (his name was Ashish Rawal) was questioned but he denied knowing about any diamonds or taking them from the hotel.

Jeet, Henry and Inspector Nitin rushed to the hotel’s main kitchen and summoned all the staff, cooks and waiters. Jeet mentioned that Ashish should not think that he is the only suspect so everyone should be questioned.

Henry and Inspector Nitin interviewed all the staff members in the kitchen. Jeet took a look at all the food. He made sure he looked at other food besides samosas, otherwise Ashish would become immediately suspicious.

Jeet searched the different foods and then came looking at the samosas. The kitchen had a big container of nearly 200 samosas. Jeet started prying each samosa open and by the time he got to the last few samosas he saw the diamonds in them (two samosas had two diamonds each and one had a single diamond). He carefully put them in an evidence bag and then labelled it.

During the questioning towards the end, Ashish divulged to Inspector Nitin that he stole the diamonds and thought that he would not be caught.

Inspector Nitin arrested Ashish and his court case would commence in two weeks.

Inspector Nitin also explained to Mr. Nigam that after all paperwork was done the diamonds would be returned to him in a few days. Both Mr. Nigam and Henry felt relieved that the diamonds were found.

Later the same day Inspector Nitin called Jeet and thanked him for his help. Jeet mentioned that he was glad that he could help out.

After completing his training Jeet returned to Delhi so that he could join his office and resume his work.