Trusted Manager Arrested in High-Profile Jewellery Heist
In a dramatic turn of events, the Mohali police have solved the high-profile burglary at Punjabi actor Kuljinder Sidhu's jewellery showroom in Sector 66 with the arrest of the actor's own manager, Deepak Kumar Bhardwaj. The accused, who had been working with the Sidhu family for the past four years, allegedly used his intimate knowledge of the showroom's security systems to execute the perfect crime.
The Discovery and Investigation
The incident occurred on November 2, when the showroom was closed for the day. According to the complaint filed by Kuljinder's brother and business partner Vikram Singh Sidhu, all jewellery items had been securely placed in the strong-room lockers before closing. When he returned on November 3 (a Sunday when the showroom remained shut), he was shocked to find the lockers completely empty and immediately alerted the Chandigarh Police.
A joint investigation was launched, with suspicion quickly falling on the showroom staff. Investigators noticed inconsistencies in manager Deepak's statements and began focusing their attention on him. Superintendent of Police (City 2) Dilpreet Singh revealed that the strong room was secured with an electronic lock system, the passcode for which was known only to trusted, long-serving staff members.
The Perfect Crime Unravels
Having worked at the showroom for nearly four years, Deepak had access to the passcode and used it to open the locker without leaving any signs of forced entry. To cover his tracks, the manager removed the DVR of the surveillance system and fled with jewellery worth Rs 1.3 crore, Rs 60,000 in cash, and the recording device.
However, his clever plan began to unravel when police teams tracked his movements through CCTV footage from roadside cameras. "Though he took away the showroom's DVR, he was picked up from footage of other locations. His trail ultimately led us to him," explained SP Dilpreet Singh.
Recovery and Ongoing Investigation
Deepak was arrested on Tuesday and during sustained interrogation, he led police to his residence in Kharar where the stolen property was hidden. Police successfully recovered:
- 40 pairs of tops
- 61 gold earrings
- 2 silver earrings
- A locket
- 2 necklaces
- Several other gold items
- The missing DVR
SP Dilpreet Singh confirmed that the entire stolen material has been recovered and the accused is currently in police remand for further interrogation. Authorities are investigating whether anyone else was involved in the crime or if Deepak attempted to dispose of any stolen items.
Police described the accused as around 47 years old and a graduate, who executed the burglary with "agility and cleverness" by exploiting his trusted position within the showroom. Investigators are now examining Deepak's financial background and phone records to establish the exact motive behind this meticulously planned burglary.
