In a brazen case of impersonation and theft, a 49-year-old man has been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly posing as a police officer and conducting a fake raid at a jewellery workshop in the bustling Karol Bagh area, making off with more than a kilogram of gold.
The Elaborate Impersonation and Heist
The incident took place on 27 November, when the owner of a jewellery-making unit in Central Delhi's Karol Bagh filed a police complaint. He reported that a group of five to six unidentified individuals had entered his premises. One of them was wearing a counterfeit Delhi Police uniform, while four others, dressed in civilian clothes, claimed to be officials from the Income Tax department.
The accused immediately seized the mobile phones of the complainant and his workers to prevent any calls for help. They then carried out a thorough but entirely fraudulent search of the workshop. Before fleeing the scene, the gang stole approximately 1 kilogram and 1 gram of gold. In a move to destroy evidence, they also removed the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system installed at the workshop.
The Investigation and Arrest of the Mastermind
Following the complaint, a case was registered and the local police swiftly acted, leading to the arrest of five individuals involved in the crime. However, the key accused, Sheikh Akram, managed to evade capture and went into hiding. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vikram Singh stated that after his associates were caught, Akram continuously changed his locations across South Delhi to avoid detection.
His run from the law ended when a dedicated police team, led by Inspector Sunil Kumar Kalkhande from the CR Park police station, tracked him down and apprehended him. During subsequent interrogation, Akram confessed to his active role in planning and executing the fake raid and robbery.
Recoveries and Criminal Connections
From Akram, the police successfully recovered 130.162 grams of the stolen gold and the motorcycle that was used during the commission of the offence. The investigation revealed that Akram, who moved to Delhi around 16 to 17 years ago, had worked in several jewellery workshops in Karol Bagh and was intimately familiar with the trade. He is currently employed at a jewellery workshop and resides with his family in the Madangir area.
Police officials disclosed that the plot was hatched by a government servant named Parminder, identified as the main accused and mastermind. Around two to three years ago, Akram came into contact with Parminder. Akram allegedly provided crucial inside information about jewellery establishments in Karol Bagh. Using this intelligence, Parminder planned the detailed robbery with the help of other associates, aiming to make easy money through the audacious scheme.
The arrest of Sheikh Akram marks a significant breakthrough in the case, though the search for the remaining stolen gold and the deeper network involved continues.
