Delhi Police arrests 5 women in gold chain snatching at Karawal Nagar market
Synopsis
Five women were nabbed by bystanders themselves after snatching a gold chain at a crowded Delhi market — with the chain recovered on the spot. The case, now registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, reveals a coordinated distraction-and-snatch pattern that police say may be linked to other incidents across the capital.
Key Takeaways
Five women were arrested on 6 July 2026 for snatching a gold chain at Makhan Market, Karawal Nagar , New Delhi.
The accused used a distraction ruse — feigning a sprained foot — before snatching the chain in a crowded market at 8:40 pm .
Alert bystanders chased and detained all five; the chain was recovered from one accused during the chase.
184/2026 registered under Sections 303(2), 317(2) and 3(5) of the BNS at Karawal Nagar Police Station.
Accused range in age from 28 (Roshni Devi) to 42 (V.
Suman) ; all are residents of Inderpuri and Madangir .
In a separate case, Nand Nagri Police Station arrested a male snatcher and recovered 5 mobile phones and a stolen Honda Activa .
Delhi Police arrested five women on 6 July 2026 in connection with a gold chain snatching at a crowded Monday Market near Akki Jewellers, Makhan Market in the Karawal Nagar area, with the stolen chain recovered on the spot. The swift action followed a public chase that prevented the accused from fleeing, and the victim's chain — though partially damaged — was returned the same evening.
How the Snatching Unfolded
At approximately 8:40 pm, the complainant was shopping at the busy Monday Market when an unknown woman approached her, claiming her foot was sprained and seeking help. Using the crowded surroundings as cover, the woman and her associates allegedly snatched the complainant's gold chain before attempting to escape.
The complainant immediately raised an alarm. Alert bystanders gave chase and managed to detain all five accused women before they could flee the area. The snatched chain was recovered from the possession of one of the accused during the chase itself.
FIR Registered, All Five Arrested
Based on the complaint, FIR No. 184/2026 was registered at Karawal Nagar Police Station under Sections 303(2), 317(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All five women were formally arrested.
The oldest among the accused has been identified as 42-year-old V. Suman, while the youngest is 28-year-old Roshni Devi. All five are residents of Inderpuri and Madangir areas of New Delhi. According to investigators, Suman was previously involved in one case of hurt; no prior criminal record has been found against the remaining four.
Interrogation Ongoing for Linked Cases
During sustained interrogation, police are working to determine whether the five accused were involved in other chain-snatching or theft incidents in the capital. Further investigation is in progress, officials said.
Second Snatching Arrest in the Capital
In a separate incident, a team from Nand Nagri Police Station arrested a male snatcher and recovered five stolen mobile phones along with a stolen Honda Activa scooter from his possession. The arrest was announced by officials on Thursday. Police have not yet disclosed the accused's identity in this case.
The two arrests together signal a stepped-up crackdown by Delhi Police on street crime in densely populated market areas, where snatching incidents have historically spiked during evening shopping hours.
Point of View
Not officers, made the initial apprehension. That detail deserves scrutiny: it reflects both the speed of street crime and the gaps in market-level policing during peak evening hours. The distraction-and-snatch method used here is a well-documented pattern in Delhi's densely crowded markets, and the fact that all five accused are residents of known localities raises questions about whether prior intelligence existed. Police are now probing links to other incidents, which suggests this may not be an isolated group. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections invoked carry serious implications — how courts interpret these provisions in street-crime cases will be worth watching as the BNS beds in.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Karawal Nagar chain snatching case?
Five women snatched a gold chain from a shopper at Monday Market near Akki Jewellers, Makhan Market, Karawal Nagar, on 6 July 2026 at around 8:40 pm. They were chased and detained by bystanders, and the chain was recovered on the spot before police registered an FIR.
Who are the accused in the Karawal Nagar snatching case?
All five accused are women and residents of Inderpuri and Madangir in New Delhi. The oldest is 42-year-old V. Suman, who has one prior case of hurt, and the youngest is 28-year-old Roshni Devi. No prior criminal record was found for the other four.
Under which sections was the FIR registered?
FIR No. 184/2026 was registered at Karawal Nagar Police Station under Sections 303(2), 317(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which governs theft, snatching, and common criminal intent.
Was the stolen gold chain recovered?
Yes, the snatched gold chain was recovered from the possession of one of the accused women during the public chase immediately after the incident. The chain was partially damaged but was returned to the complainant.
What is the status of the investigation?
Police are conducting sustained interrogation to determine whether the five accused were involved in other chain-snatching or theft incidents in Delhi. A separate male snatcher was also arrested by Nand Nagri Police Station with five stolen phones and a stolen Honda Activa.
