Delhi Police crack diamond theft case, arrest two in Moti Bagh
Synopsis
A housekeeping staffer who allegedly stole a diamond from his employer's home and then enlisted a friend to find buyers was arrested in Moti Bagh, New Delhi — with the gem recovered. The operation, involving raids across Hyderabad, Almora, and Delhi, also cracked a separate stolen mobile phone case in the process.
Key Takeaways
South-West district police arrested Manish Chandra and Ankit Kumar , both aged 22 , from Nanakpura, Moti Bagh on 4 August .
The diamond theft was reported at South Campus Police Station on 10 July under Section 306 of the BNS .
Manish, employed as housekeeping staff, allegedly stole the diamond and later sought help from Ankit to find a buyer.
Police recovered one stolen diamond , one stolen mobile phone , and two additional mobile phones .
The operation resolved two cases , including a separate stolen mobile phone case at Kamla Market Police Station .
Raids were conducted across Hyderabad , Almora , and multiple Delhi locations before the arrests.
South-West district police in New Delhi have solved a diamond theft case and arrested two accused — Manish Chandra (22) of Almora, Uttarakhand, and Ankit Kumar (22) of Mahipalpur, New Delhi — from the Nanakpura area of Moti Bagh on 4 August. The stolen diamond, along with three mobile phones, was recovered from their possession.
How the Theft Unfolded
A complaint was registered at South Campus Police Station on 10 July under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), after the complainant alleged that her housekeeping staff member, Manish Chandra, had stolen a diamond of substantial value from her residence. According to police, Manish had joined the household as housekeeping staff and allegedly committed the theft within days of being employed, after which he left the job and went into hiding.
Investigators found that Manish was unable to find a buyer for the stolen diamond on his own. He then reached out to his associate, Ankit Kumar, who circulated photographs of the diamond through his mobile phone in an effort to identify potential buyers and facilitate its sale.
The Investigation and Arrests
A dedicated police team was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Ravinder Kumar Verma, Station House Officer of South Campus Police Station, and the overall guidance of Assistant Commissioner of Police Babbar Bhan of Vasant Vihar Sub-Division. The team comprised Assistant Sub-Inspector Satpal, Head Constable Rajender, and Constable Ravi Shankar.
The team conducted extensive technical analysis, electronic surveillance, and intelligence gathering. Several raids were carried out across Hyderabad, Almora, and multiple locations in Delhi before both accused were apprehended from Nanakpura, Moti Bagh.
Recoveries and Additional Case Links
During questioning, Manish Chandra confessed to the theft. Acting on his disclosure, police recovered the stolen diamond. A mobile phone seized from Manish was found to be linked to a separate theft case registered via e-FIR under Section 303(2) of the BNS at Kamla Market Police Station in Central Delhi. A second mobile phone recovered from Manish is currently being verified for ownership. The mobile phone used by Ankit to circulate photographs of the diamond was also seized.
In total, police recovered one stolen diamond, one stolen mobile phone, and two additional mobile phones, including one containing photographs of the stolen diamond.
Background on the Accused
Manish Chandra, who studied up to Class 12, was employed as housekeeping staff at the time of the alleged theft. Ankit Kumar, who studied up to Class 11, works as housekeeping staff at a hotel. Police said the operation resolved two cases — the diamond theft at South Campus Police Station and the stolen mobile phone case at Kamla Market Police Station. Further investigation is underway.
Point of View
Often unverified hiring of domestic and housekeeping staff. While the police response here was methodical — spanning three cities and yielding a dual-case resolution — the incident raises questions about background verification norms for domestic workers, which remain largely unenforced in India. The fact that the accused could not find a buyer for the diamond also points to a functioning informal market intelligence that investigators were able to exploit. Whether this prompts any policy conversation on domestic staff verification is the thread worth watching.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen in the Delhi diamond theft case?
A diamond of substantial value was stolen from a complainant's residence in South-West Delhi by her housekeeping staff member, Manish Chandra. The theft was reported at South Campus Police Station on 10 July under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Who were the two men arrested by Delhi Police?
The two accused are Manish Chandra (22), a resident of Almora in Uttarakhand, and Ankit Kumar (22), a resident of Mahipalpur in New Delhi. Both were apprehended from the Nanakpura area of Moti Bagh.
How did police track down the accused?
Investigators used technical analysis, electronic surveillance, and intelligence gathering, conducting raids in Hyderabad, Almora, and multiple Delhi locations before arresting both accused. The breakthrough came after sustained surveillance and credible information led the team to Moti Bagh.
What was recovered during the operation?
Police recovered one stolen diamond, one stolen mobile phone linked to a separate case, and two additional mobile phones — including one used to circulate photographs of the stolen diamond to potential buyers.
Were any other cases resolved alongside the diamond theft?
Yes. A mobile phone recovered from Manish Chandra was found to be linked to a separate stolen mobile phone case registered at Kamla Market Police Station in Central Delhi under Section 303(2) of the BNS. The operation thus resolved two cases simultaneously.
