A Ludhiana businessman was forced to track down CCTV footage on his own before the police registered a case of gold theft from a crowded auto-rickshaw. Authorities attributed the delay to verification procedures.
Incident Overview
The theft occurred early on May 24, when a transit gang made off with six tolas of gold jewellery. Sunil Sahni, 32, a resident of Basti Jodhewal who runs a small hosiery business, alleged that the Division Number 1 police station waited until Monday to file a first-information report, and only after he had made multiple visits.
Sequence of Events
Sahni, along with his wife and children, had returned from a wedding in Uttar Pradesh by train around 6:30 a.m. that day. They boarded an auto-rickshaw to head home. Near Mata Rani Chowk, three or four men entered the vehicle. Sahni noted that they appeared familiar with the driver. The men crowded the auto so tightly that the family could not see their luggage.
Upon reaching their destination, Sahni discovered a broken lock on his bag and a packet of gold jewellery missing. He promptly filed a complaint but spent four days visiting the police station without any action. He then reviewed CCTV footage independently to identify the vehicle's registration number, which he later provided to investigators. The process was further delayed when Sahni had to return to Uttar Pradesh to care for his ailing wife. After returning to Ludhiana, he visited the police station for three consecutive days before the case was finally registered.
Police Explanation
Assistant sub-inspector Somnath, the investigating officer, stated that the delay was due to initial verification. “When we obtained the CCTV footage, we requested the trader’s statement, but he had traveled to his hometown,” Somnath said.
Following Sahni’s return, police registered the FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft and acts committed by multiple people with common intention. No arrests have been made so far.
