In a shocking case of betrayal, a domestic help employed for years in a Noida household orchestrated an elaborate fake robbery to steal valuables worth approximately Rs 50 lakh. The Noida police have arrested the helper, Sandeep (25), and his two associates, Babu alias Omprakash (24) and Lekhraj alias Saka (19), for the crime that unfolded in Sector 46.
The Elaborate Staged Crime
The incident occurred on the night of December 25, when the homeowner, a chief engineer with Delhi Jal Nigam, and his family were away in Mumbai for work. They had entrusted the house keys to Sandeep, who had been working there since 2017 and lived in the servant's quarters. Seeing an opportunity, Sandeep hatched a plan he had contemplated for months.
Two days prior to the theft, Sandeep called his two accomplices from his hometown, Mahoba, to Noida. After the family departed, he let Babu and Saka into the house. The trio then spent about eight hours inside, using tools to cut open cupboards and lockers, systematically looting jewellery and cash.
To cover his tracks, Sandeep then staged a scene to mislead his employer. He tied himself to a chair and inflicted blade injuries on his own body. The plan was to make it appear that robbers had attacked him, held him hostage, and then fled with the valuables.
Police Investigation Unravels the Plot
Initially, the narrative seemed convincing. Upon receiving information, the owner's brother from Sector 40 and a Police Response Vehicle (PRV) team arrived at the spot and found Sandeep injured. However, as the probe led by the Sector 39 police team deepened, inconsistencies emerged, and suspicion fell on Sandeep himself, who had by then fled to Mahoba.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Yamuna Prasad announced a Rs 25,000 reward for the police team that solved the case. Sandeep was apprehended on Monday when he returned to the city. Based on his confession, his two associates were also arrested. Police have recovered cash worth Rs 1.2 lakh so far.
A crucial breakthrough came from CCTV footage. The accused, in a bid to avoid detection, had removed the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the house and taken it with them. However, police technical experts managed to retrieve the footage, which played an instrumental role in confirming their involvement and the sequence of events.
Motives and Aftermath
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Praveen Singh, all three accused had studied only up to grades 3 to 5. Their motive was financial gain to start their own business. Sandeep had even contacted several jewellers to sell the stolen ornaments. His accomplices, burdened by debts, readily agreed to the plan.
The case highlights a severe breach of trust by a long-term employee. The police have charged the trio under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for theft and criminal conspiracy. The investigation continues as authorities work to recover the remaining stolen jewellery valued in lakhs.
