In a dramatic case of life imitating art, the Delhi Police has cracked a high-stakes robbery where a gang, taking inspiration from the Bollywood heist film Special 26, posed as police and Income Tax officers to loot 1.001 kilograms of gold worth approximately Rs 70 lakh from a jewellery workshop in the capital. The five accused were arrested following an intense 72-hour, 1,200-kilometre interstate chase across Delhi and Haryana.
The Bollywood-Style Heist in Karol Bagh
The audacious crime unfolded on November 27 in the bustling Dev Nagar area of Karol Bagh, a prominent jewellery hub in New Delhi. Posing as officers from the Delhi Police and the Income Tax department, the men conducted a fake 'raid' on the workshop. To ensure they left no digital trail, they seized the mobile phones of the workers and dismantled the CCTV surveillance system before making off with the precious yellow metal.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rishi Kumar stated that the investigation was launched immediately after an FIR was registered. A dedicated team from the Prasad Nagar Police Station and the Central District's Special Staff combed through evidence, analysing footage from more than 250 CCTV cameras and employing technical surveillance and human intelligence to track the culprits.
The 1,200-Km Chase and Arrests
The police's relentless pursuit led to a sprawling operation spanning over 1,200 kilometres. The breakthrough came with the arrest of a key member, Sandeep (30), a resident of Jind, Haryana, from Bahadurgarh. His capture led to the subsequent arrest of four more accomplices.
The other arrested individuals have been identified as Rakesh Sharma (41), Shaminder Pal Singh (43), Lavpreet Singh (30), and Parvinder (42). From the accused, the police have successfully recovered a significant portion of the stolen goods, including 435.03 grams of the looted gold and Rs 3.97 lakh in cash.
The vehicles used in the commission of the crime—a Brezza, a Toyota Urban Cruiser, and a Swift Dzire—were also seized. Crucially, investigators found five fake Delhi Police ID card holders and the uniforms worn during the deceptive raid.
Masterminds Inspired by Cinema
Investigations revealed that the plot was masterminded by two individuals: Sandeep, who posed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Public Relations Department of the Madhya Pradesh government, and Parvinder, who is an actual government employee. The duo reportedly drew direct inspiration from the Akshay Kumar-starrer film Special 26, which depicts a series of similar fake CBI and Income Tax raids.
"They motivated the other accused to conduct the fake raid for quick money," said an officer. After the heist, the loot was distributed among the gang members. The police have identified three more individuals allegedly involved in the theft and are conducting raids to apprehend them and recover the remaining gold.
This elaborate sting operation by the Delhi Police underscores how criminal plots are sometimes hatched from cinematic blueprints, but also highlights the efficacy of coordinated, tech-aided investigations in solving complex interstate crimes.
