New Delhi: A house help, along with two more people, allegedly carried out a fake ED raid at the house of his employer in the New Friends Colony area of southeast Delhi and fled with Rs 3 to 4 lakh cash and some valuables, police said.
According to the police, three people posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials visited the 86-year-old retired senior architect RC Sabharwal’s house on February 11 and carried out searches. They also allegedly confiscated the mobile phones of the family members.
A probe into the incident revealed that the domestic help, Rekha Devi, 40, was the mastermind of the plan and she hatched the conspiracy and took the help of her close associates, including her sister-in-law Pooja Rajput (50), in the robbery.
3 posed as ED official, fled with cash and watches
Police said that three accused wearing police uniforms arrived at the home of Sabharwal and identified themselves as ED officials and threatened the family. The accused seized the family’s mobile phones and pretended to search. When the victim’s grandson became suspicious, the accused fled the scene, taking approximately Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 4,00,000 in cash and seven expensive watches, police added.
An FIR was registered at the New Friends Colony police station on February 24 and an investigation was initiated. Two people, including the house help, who is the main conspirator, have been arrested so far and efforts are underway to nab the other accused, police said.
How accused were tracked down
Police identified the accused with the help of digital trails and also after examining more than 350 CCTV cameras.
With the help of footage, the entire route of the accused’s vehicle was reconstructed and the vehicle’s number was traced.
Police also examined mobile tower dump data and tracked IMEI, which helped them identify the mobile number active at both the crime scene and in Vaishali. The investigation led directly to Pooja Rajput’s home in Ghaziabad. Local information also revealed that the victim’s family’s domestic help, Rekha Devi, frequently visited the same address.
Evidence recovered in the raid
On February 25, police raided Pooja Rajput’s home and recovered the uniform of an ITBP Deputy Commandant and a fake ID card.
A wireless set box, seven stolen luxury watches, and jewellery were also recovered. The recoveries made it clear that the entire incident was a well-planned conspiracy.
3 more accused on run
Police said three other accused in the case are still at large, including Prakash, a serving ITBP constable, one Manish and Updesh Singh Thapa, a retired army personnel. The Baleno car used in the crime is registered in Thapa’s name.