Minor arrested for stealing jewellery at Islamic Centre marriage ceremony

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have arrested a minor, who was caught on tape stealing jewellery worth Rs 40 lakh from a marriage ceremony at India Islamic Centre on Saturday night. Police also suspect that other members of the group were also involved and they were dressed as the wedding staff in the marriage ceremony.

They are currently questioning the ten-year-old to ascertain the identity of the accused. The incident took place at around 1 am at the wedding of Dr Saif Hasan Naqvi’s sister at the India Islamic Centre.

Naqvi told police that the thieves stole a brown trolley containing gold set, diamond earring and necklace. Naqvi made a PCR call and a complaint under section 380 of IPC was registered at the Tughlak Road police station, he added.

The CCTV footage from the venue was analysed and it was found to be the handiwork of a gang that uses children to steal at wedding parties.

In the CCTV footage, it was seen that five-six children, had entered the venue and after some time, a child was seen carrying the brown bag out of the venue, said the officer. It is suspected that an organised gang, that uses children to carry out thefts. There is also suspicion that it might be the handiwork of the gang of thieves,that allegedly targets wedding parties.

A similar theft was reported at a wedding party last month where the gang had decamped with jewellery, Rs 7 lakh cash and a phone of a judicial officer in Juvenile Justice Board from his nephew’s wedding in Civil Lines area.

The Inter State Cell of Crime Branch had been tasked with investigating the matter but they haven’t been able to nab the accused.