In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police has apprehended a 31-year-old man from Tamil Nadu for his alleged involvement in a high-value jewellery theft case in the capital's bustling Karol Bagh area. The accused is linked to a notorious interstate criminal gang known for its audacious 'thak-thak' modus operandi.
The Heist in a Busy Market
The incident dates back to November 14, when a jewellery trader became the victim of a well-planned theft. According to police reports, the trader had collected 62 pieces of gold and diamond jewellery, along with their official grading certificates, from an IGI laboratory located in Karol Bagh. He parked his vehicle near Durga Park and stepped away briefly to attend to some work.
Upon his return, he was met with a distressing scene. The right-side window of his car was completely smashed. A bag containing the precious jewellery, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, was missing from the vehicle. The trader immediately reported the crime, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at the Karol Bagh police station.
The Investigation and Arrest
The case was subsequently transferred to the crime branch for a more intensive probe. Investigators began by scouring through CCTV footage from the crime scene and along potential escape routes used by the culprits. Their investigation also involved questioning known criminals with a history of similar offences, which eventually pointed the needle towards a gang hailing from Trichy (Tiruchirappalli).
This gang, police revealed, is active not just in the Delhi-National Capital Region but also in other major metropolitan cities across the country. "The accused's movement was tracked to the Nizamuddin area," stated DCP (Crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Acting on this crucial intelligence, a police team laid a trap near the Nizamuddin railway station and successfully arrested the accused, identified as T Sarath Kumar, on December 15.
A Habual Offender with a Criminal Trail
The arrest led to the recovery of jewellery worth around Rs 35 lakh from the possession of Sarath Kumar. Further interrogation and background checks exposed his extensive criminal record. Police disclosed that Kumar is a proclaimed offender in four separate theft cases already registered at police stations in Kamla Market, Connaught Place, and Lahori Gate.
In total, he is suspected to be involved in at least eight criminal cases within Delhi alone. Describing his modus operandi, officials stated that Kumar, along with his associates, would frequently travel from his home state of Tamil Nadu to Delhi and other states. The gang would conduct reconnaissance of busy commercial and jewellery markets, specifically targeting parked vehicles where occupants had left valuables inside, swiftly breaking the windows to commit the theft.
The arrest marks a key success for the Delhi Police in curbing the activities of the interstate 'thak-thak' gang, which has been a persistent threat to citizens in crowded market areas. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the network and recover the remaining stolen jewellery.
