A Mumbai-based software engineer turned detective after her high-end smartphone was stolen in Varanasi, leading to a major recovery operation and exposing police inaction that resulted in the suspension of an officer.
From Theft to Self-Help Tracking
The incident began on December 30, when Ankita Gupta was visiting the famous ghats of Varanasi with her family. Amid the heavy crowds at Assi Ghat, an unidentified person snatched her Samsung S23 Ultra phone. Gupta immediately filed a formal complaint at the Bhelupur police station.
However, frustrated by the lack of prompt follow-up from the officials, Gupta decided to take matters into her own hands. With assistance from fellow engineers, she used technical tools to trace the live location of her stolen device.
The Raid and Major Recovery
Her investigation led her to a residential house in Varanasi's Manduadih area. After confirming the location, she informed the police and provided them with the precise details. A police team subsequently conducted a raid on the premises.
The operation was highly successful. Not only was Gupta's Samsung phone recovered, but the raid also uncovered a cache of other stolen devices. Police officials reported that 12 additional mobile phones were found at the location. Another senior officer estimated the total seizure to be between 15 and 20 devices, which included multiple iPhones. Authorities are investigating if the location served as a collection point for stolen gadgets.
Fallout and Police Suspension
The case sparked significant criticism on social media, with users lambasting the police for their initial failure to act. Comments described the police as "defunct" and highlighted the need for citizens to be "smart" and rely on themselves.
The public attention and successful recovery prompted Deputy Commissioner of Police Gaurav Kumar to order an internal inquiry. The probe found that Rohit Tripathi, the officer in charge of the Assi Ghat police outpost, was negligent in responding promptly to Gupta's complaint. As a direct consequence, Tripathi was suspended on January 4.
The police have stated that a further investigation is ongoing to identify the individuals connected to the recovered phones and to unravel the full extent of the theft network.
