A maid staged a fake ‘ED raid’ at an elderly couple’s residence in southeast Delhi’s New Friends Colony and robbed them of ₹4 million and some valuables, police said on Thursday.
According to a PTI report, three men allegedly posing as ED officials conducted the fake raid. However, during investigation, the police found that the main mastermind of the plan was the domestic help of the couple, who planned the whole thing with her four relatives, who included an ITBP constable and an ex-army personnel, as co-accused.
The incident took place around 10 am on February 11 when three men dressed in police-style uniforms entered the house of RC Sabharwal (86), a retired senior architect, and his wife Usha Sabharwal.
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What happened:
Police said three men, who claimed to be deputed by the ED to search, entered Sabharwal’s house and asked the elderly couple to keep their mobile phones, jewellery, cash and valuables on the table.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Aishwarya Sharma said in a statement that they (the accused) refused to show any order or authorization letter and allegedly took away the family members’ mobile phones, switched them off and prevented them from contacting anyone.
Frightened by threats of arrest, the complainant put down the bag containing the bike ₹10-12 lakh, reported as legitimate business income, on the dinner table.
How did the cards turn?
The ADCP said the fraudsters took photographs of the cash and repeated threats of legal action.
However, the tide turned when the couple managed to alert their grandson, a senior lawyer. “The situation changed when Usha managed to alert her grandson, a senior lawyer,” the officer said.
Sensing trouble, the accused fled the spot and allegedly drove away ₹3 to 4 million in cash and seven luxury watches.
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Subsequently, the victims filed a complaint at the New Friends Colony Police Station and an FIR was registered under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita:
- 318(4): cheating
- 319(2): fraud by impersonation
- 329(4): offence
- 127(3): unlawful imprisonment
- 3(5): common intention
2 accused arrested
Of the five accused, two were arrested on Wednesday and have been identified as Rekha Devi (40), a domestic help, and Pooja Rajput (45), police said.
The absconding accused are Pooja’s husband Prakash, who is an ITBP constable, her son Manish and Updesh Singh Thapa alias Pintu, a retired army man.
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How did the maid make a fake raid?
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Hemant Tiwari said technical surveillance revealed Rekha Devi as the key conspirator. “Her involvement confirmed that the crime was an inside job.
During interrogation, Rekha confessed to planning the fake raid after noticing that the complainant was elderly and often alone at home.
They believed that impersonating central agency officials would ensure compliance and minimize opposition from the family.
Luxury watches and jewelry were found at the residence of the accused
During a search of Pooja’s residence in Vaishali, the police found an ITBP Deputy Commandant’s uniform, her identity card and a wireless device allegedly used to mimic official police communications.
The Delhi Police also seized seven luxury watches, jewelery allegedly stolen from the complainant’s house and a pistol whose license had expired in 2019.
“Raids are being conducted at multiple places to trace and arrest the remaining accused. Efforts are also on to recover the remaining stolen cash and any other property of the case,” Tiwari said.
Further investigations are underway to ascertain the exact roles of each accused, to verify the source of the uniform and identity card and to find out if the accused has been involved in any similar incidents in the past.
