New Delhi: A 49-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly taking part in a fake Income Tax raid to rob a jewellery-making workshop in central Delhi’s
Karol Bagh, a crime police say was inspired by the Bollywood film Special 26. With this arrest, the total number of people held in the case has risen to six, police said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Sheikh Akram, is a resident of Madangir in south Delhi.
How the Fake Raid Was Carried Out
According to police, the robbery took place on November 27, when five to six men entered a jewellery workshop posing as officials.
- One of the accused wore a fake Delhi Police uniform
- Others pretended to be Income Tax officials
- Mobile phones of the owner and workers were seized
- The accused conducted a fraudulent search
- Around 1.1 kg of gold was looted
- The CCTV DVR was removed before the group fled
A senior police officer said the operation was staged to appear like a legitimate raid to avoid suspicion.
Gold Recovered, Motorcycle Seized
Police said 130.162 grams of the stolen gold was recovered from Akram’s possession. A motorcycle used in the crime was also impounded.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
While five accused were arrested earlier, Akram remained absconding. Acting on specific intelligence, a police team:
- Laid a trap at a guest house in CR Park
- Conducted the raid on December 14
- Verified the accused’s identity using technical and manual surveillance
- Arrested him on the spot
During interrogation, Akram allegedly confessed to his role in the crime.
Inside Job: Accused Knew the Jewellery Trade
Police said Akram had been working in jewellery-making units in Karol Bagh for several years and used his familiarity with the trade to aid the gang.
- He allegedly shared details of jewellery workshops
- The information was passed to the mastermind, Parminder
- Parminder, a government employee, was arrested earlier
“The information provided by Akram was used to plan the fake raid to earn quick money,” a senior officer said.
Police said further investigation is underway to:
- Recover the remaining stolen gold
- Identify and trace other links in the racket
Authorities have warned traders to remain vigilant and verify the credentials of officials claiming to conduct raids.
(With inputs from PTI)
