Jewelry Worth ₹1.5 Crore Reported Missing at Bhopal Airport; Initial Scans Raise New Questions

A woman traveler from the United States has reported the theft of high-value jewelry worth approximately ₹1.5 crore at Raja Bhoj International Airport in Bhopal, sparking concern among passengers about airport security.

The traveler, Shalini Bafna, alleged that her checked-in baggage containing a diamond chain, ring, and other valuable jewelry went missing after she arrived in Bhopal. She lodged her complaint via email with both the Airport Authority of India and IndiGo Airlines.

Airport Administration Response

Reacting promptly, Airport Director Ramji Awasthi, with assistance from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), conducted a thorough review of CCTV footage and the baggage scanning report. According to the administration, the initial scans at 10:20 AM on Saturday did not reveal any jewelry packets or suspicious items in the bag, leading the authorities to question the validity of the theft claim.

Traveler’s Planned Journey

After arriving from the United States, Shalini Bafna was scheduled to board an IndiGo flight to Mumbai at 11:00 AM. Airport officials have shared all relevant information with the airline and confirmed that preliminary checks show no signs of tampering or theft at the airport.

Case Remains Under Investigation

With no concrete evidence yet, the incident remains classified as suspicious. IndiGo Airlines is actively in contact with the traveler and is reviewing footage and staff activity during loading and unloading of the baggage. Authorities are also investigating whether the jewelry might have gone missing before arrival in Bhopal.

The ₹1.5 crore “jewelry mystery” has raised questions about baggage security and is being closely monitored by both the airport administration and the airline.