BOSTON — A pivotal court hearing in the high-profile robbery case targeting Indian-American and South Asian households across Massachusetts has been postponed until next month. Originally slated for May 16, 2025, the hearing will now tentatively take place on June 10, 2025, according to officials.
The delay comes as defense attorneys for the accused have requested the court consider a pre-trial resolution — a move that could result in a guilty plea in exchange for a reduced sentence. This development has only intensified calls from victims and advocates demanding justice for what many describe as racially motivated and culturally targeted crimes.
In recent months, at least 43 South Asian families in Eastern Massachusetts have reported coordinated break-ins, with burglars systematically stealing heirloom gold, jewelry, and sacred items of deep cultural and emotional significance.
“These were not random break-ins,” a widely circulated petition declares. “The perpetrators knew exactly what they were looking for — heirloom gold, symbols of tradition, and deeply personal treasures that connect us to our ancestors.”
The petition, titled “Letter of Support: Demand for Justice and Protection of South Asian Families,” has garnered growing support across the state. Nearly 100 people have signed so far, urging the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and presiding judge to pursue the harshest penalties available under the law.
Upendra Mishra, publisher of INDIA New England News, is among the petition’s key organizers. In a forceful appeal to the public, Mishra emphasized the significance of collective advocacy at this crucial moment.
“This is about more than stolen gold — it’s about stolen trust and the desecration of cultural identity,” said Mishra. “We believe that urging the District Attorney and judge for a maximum sentence is not just justified, it’s necessary. The strength of our petition, combined with compelling witness testimony and the deep emotional and social trauma this has caused, must weigh heavily in sentencing. Every signature matters. It takes less than a minute — and it sends a loud, united message.”
Community leaders, including Mishra and Samir Desai of Lincoln, MA, are encouraging everyone impacted — directly or indirectly — to take part by signing the petition and sharing it widely.
To sign the petition, please click here.
The grassroots movement is also pushing for broader reforms. In addition to maximum sentencing, petitioners are demanding enhanced cultural sensitivity training for law enforcement and stronger protections for immigrant and minority communities.
“The sentence must reflect the scale and severity of what our community has endured,” the petition asserts. “Let it send a message that targeting vulnerable communities will never be tolerated.”
How You Can Help
To support the victims and demand justice, visit the petition pag
e and sign:
To sign the petition, please click here.
Your voice can help ensure that crimes against any community — especially those motivated by cultural profiling — are met with firm, unequivocal justice.
Together, we are louder. Together, we are stronger. Together, we demand justice.
