Surat Industrialist Ashish Gujarati Attacked and Robbed on Udaipur Highway

Surat | Gujarat — In a shocking case of highway crime, Surat-based textile industrialist and former president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), Ashish Gujarati, was attacked and robbed by unidentified assailants on the Udaipur Highway late on October 26. The robbers made away with valuables worth over ₹3.5 lakh, including cash and jewellery.

The incident took place near Pipli village, when Gujarati briefly stopped his Toyota Hyryder while travelling from Surat to Udaipur with his wife and family friends. According to police sources, three men on a motorcycle approached his car under the pretext of seeking help but soon turned violent.

Speaking to investigators, Gujarati said, “The men threatened me in Hindi and demanded that I hand over all the cash I had. When I refused, one of them snatched my wallet containing ₹15,000, debit cards, and my licence.” When Gujarati tried to resist, the robbers turned aggressive and began threatening his wife and friends inside the vehicle.

During the scuffle, one of the assailants struck Gujarati on the head with a wooden stick, causing him to bleed. The attackers then forcibly removed a diamond ring worth ₹3 lakh from his finger before attempting to flee.

Displaying remarkable presence of mind, Gujarati’s wife quickly parked the car diagonally across the road, forcing other vehicles to stop and creating a commotion that scared the robbers away. Nearby motorists rushed to the scene, provided first aid, and helped stop the bleeding.

Gujarati later contacted the police and filed an official complaint at the Surajpol Police Station in Udaipur. Police have registered a case of assault and robbery and have launched a manhunt for the three unidentified suspects.

A senior Udaipur police officer said, “We are examining CCTV footage from nearby toll plazas and petrol pumps. Highway patrols have been alerted, and we are confident of tracing the culprits soon.”

The attack has shocked the business community in Surat, with several SGCCI members condemning the incident and urging authorities to strengthen security along interstate highways used frequently by traders and industrialists.