Lucknow: Jewellery valued at over ₹8 crore and a licenced revolver were stolen from a villa belonging to a Gorakhpur-based contractor in a posh residential colony in Barabanki, police said on Saturday.
Theft at Shalimar Paradise Colony
The incident took place at the residence of Ajay Singh Baghel in Shalimar Paradise under the Kotwali Nagar police station limits. Baghel reported that the jewellery, which had been accumulated over three generations, was stored in the house.
Timeline of Events
According to police, Baghel left for Gorakhpur and later Mumbai with his family on April 19. Upon returning on April 30, he discovered that valuables worth ₹8-10 crore were missing. An FIR was registered on Friday after Baghel submitted a detailed list of the stolen items.
Driver Under Suspicion
Investigators suspect the involvement of the family's driver, who has been detained for questioning. Police said the driver had been employed by Baghel for the past two years and frequently visited the house for cleaning work. He was also known to stay back even after the domestic help left.
Evidence from CCTV and Phone
CCTV footage revealed that the driver recently started arriving at the premises in a car instead of his usual motorcycle. During verification of his mobile phone, police recovered deleted data that allegedly included photographs of locker and cupboard keys. Police also found that CCTV cameras and interior lights of the house were switched off on the night of April 27.
Investigation Details
Baghel told investigators that his wife had been bedridden for the past three months and occasionally relied on the driver in his absence, which may have given him access to information about the valuables. Circle officer (city) Sangam Kumar is leading the investigation with the help of surveillance and SWAT teams. Inspector Sudhir Kumar Singh said a case was registered and all angles, including the driver's role, were being examined.
