Delhi Police red-faced as crores stolen from special cell store; head constable held

NEW DELHI: A high-profile theft has rocked Delhi Police special cell, with cash and jewellery worth crores going missing from its police station in Lodhi Colony. In a shocking twist, the culprit behind the daring heist was revealed to be none other than a head constable.Khurshid, the main suspect, had recently been transferred to the east district after serving in the special cell for a long time. He has been arrested, and Rs 50 lakh cash and jewellery valued at over Rs 2 crore recovered from him, officials said.

The theft took place in early hours of May 31 at the cell's store (maalkhana). Sources said there were telltale signs that this was not the first theft from the store - at least three previous instances are under investigation - and that it could be an ongoing scam.It is also being probed whether records of cash at the maalkhana were being updated every day. The supervisory officers will be questioned and accountability fixed, sources said. The maalkhana is a secure facility where items seized by Delhi Police during various raids and operations are stored. These include cash, narcotics, weapons, gold etc.Khurshid had meticulously planned the theft and it hinged on his prior access and familiarity with the maalkhana.

During his posting at the maalkhana, he had managed to get duplicate keys made of the storeroom locks which he used to execute the theft without being noticed or stopped. Khurshid was well-acquainted with the layout, security measures and routine operations."Having previously worked there, he was also known to the staff and no one questioned his presence. When he entered the storeroom, the staff assumed he was there on official duty," said a sub-inspector who didn't wish to be named.Police said Khurshid quietly accessed the storeroom using the duplicate key and left with the stolen items without drawing attention or being caught in the CCTV. He, however, left the door open while leaving which led to the discovery of the theft in the morning.Sources said Khurshid was faintly captured on CCTV while trying to fudge the entry book around 2am. He was masked and wearing a helmet to camouflage his identity but colleagues identified him by his appearance and physical features.Special cell cops then raided his house in Indirapuram while placing his phone on surveillance. The stolen items were recovered from his car.The incident has exposed serious lapses. Questions are being raised on why the same unit was allowed to investigate the case given that there could be involvement of others from the cell, including seniors. Further, the possibility of Khurshid having stolen other items while he was in-charge of the store can't be ignored, said a former cell cop.The station's maalkhana came under inspector Shiv Darshan, ACP Rahul Vikram and DCP (now additional CP) Pratiksha Godara. "Khurshid was previously overseeing the store (maalkhana) until his transfer in April. He left the cell (relieved on paper) in the last week of May, days before the heist," said a source."This is like the faux pas made in the Nadir Shah case where the unit under scanner was asked to probe the case just because it had prior intelligence connected to the incident," he added.

Businessman Nadir Shah was gunned down in full public view outside a gym in GK-I last September. He was under police surveillance and many special cell cops were in the vicinity at the time of the killing.Sources said the police commissioner is likely to establish accountability once the probe is complete. For now, an FIR of theft has been registered at the special cell. A separate enquiry by the vigilance unit is likely to be ordered as well.