Five men have been nabbed in two separate operations for allegedly stealing over Rs 2 crore in cash and jewelry from a senior DRDO scientist’s residence in Rohini’s Prashant Vihar, police said Monday. While a sixth person is on the run, around Rs 1.22 crore in cash and other goods were seized from those apprehended.
Local police detained primary conspirator Gaurav Kawatra (36) and Jasmeen Singh nicknamed Gifty (42) on Sunday, one day after the alleged heist occurred around 12:50 p.m. Two Crime Branch teams apprehended three others in two different operations: Kamal aka Amandeep (22), Ashish aka Ashu (22), and Pawan Singh (22). According to authorities, efforts are on to arrest Krishan, the sixth accused.
According to Crime Branch Additional CP Sanjay Bhatia, Kawatra worked at Harsh’s security appliances business until being fired a year ago. However, he remained in contact with other employees and learned that a large sum of money was kept at Harsh’s residence. Kawatra undertook a survey of the house on October 15 and devised the concept.
On October 18, one of the accused, posing as a delivery agent, approached retired DRDO scientist Sibbu Singh Verma at his house in F Block, according to Bhatia. The accused then allegedly shoved Verma inside his home, covering his mouth, while four more accused barged in as Kawatra waited outside, according to police.
The accused then allegedly raided the residence, holding Verma, his wife Nirmala, and their younger son, Harsh Verma, at gunpoint and brandishing a knife. They soon decamped with 260 grams of gold and over Rs 2 crore in cash stored in cartons. “While Pawan and Ashish kept the victims at gunpoint and knifepoint, Kamal, Krishan, and Jasmeen searched the house and took out all the cash and jewelry items,” according to Bhatia. Following a police complaint, officers searched through multiple CCTV recordings and identified the suspects as well as the motorcycle, whose registration plate was obscured during the alleged theft, police said.
Police then zeroed in on Kawatra, and his detention led them to Jasmeen, who was apprehended in Karol Bagh on Sunday. Simultaneously, authorities obtained information about the movement of two suspects along GT Road. A trap was laid, resulting in the arrests of Amandeep and Ashu. Officers claimed they seized two bags holding Rs 76 lakh and the bike used in the crime. Another Crime Branch team apprehended Pawan and recovered Rs 34 lakh. According to authorities, the defendants have confessed to their crimes.