Delhi Police arrest 3 for PWD CCTV DVR theft in Seelampur
Synopsis
A stolen government CCTV DVR in Seelampur led Delhi Police to an unlikely suspect: a former PWD worker who allegedly used his insider knowledge of the installation to strip the unit clean. Three arrests, a Jahangirpuri scrap trail, and ₹48,000 in recovered proceeds later, the case exposes a blind spot in how surveillance assets are protected after deployment.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested three persons for stealing a PWD CCTV DVR from J-Block, Seelampur on 27 July .
Accused Arif Khan had previously worked with the PWD during CCTV installation, allegedly using that knowledge to facilitate the theft.
The stolen DVR was sold to a scrap dealer, Aasu (18) , in Jahangirpuri , who was subsequently arrested.
Police recovered the stolen PWD CCTV hard disk , ₹48,000 in cash, and one Oppo mobile phone .
Danish Ansari has four prior theft cases; Arif Khan has one robbery case; Aasu has no prior record.
Case registered under Sections 303(2) and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Seelampur Police Station .
Delhi Police have cracked a theft case involving a government Public Works Department (PWD) CCTV DVR stolen from J-Block, Seelampur, arresting three individuals and recovering the stolen hard disk along with ₹48,000 in alleged sale proceeds. The theft, which took place on 27 July, was reported via an e-FIR filed at Seelampur Police Station under Sections 303(2) and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
How the Accused Were Traced
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the vicinity and identified two individuals in the act of removing the DVR unit. Using a combination of technical surveillance and local intelligence, the police team tracked down and detained both suspects.
The accused were identified as Danish Ansari, son of Raees Ansari and a resident of Shri Ram Colony, Khajuri, and Arif Khan, son of Maqsood Ahmed, also a resident of Shri Ram Colony, Khajuri.
Inside Connection: Ex-PWD Worker Allegedly Facilitated Theft
According to police, the investigation revealed that Arif Khan had previously worked with the PWD during the installation of CCTV cameras at the site. His familiarity with the equipment — specifically the process of detaching the DVR and hard disk — allegedly made it easier to carry out the theft without detection. This detail points to what investigators describe as an insider-assisted operation.
Trail Leads to Scrap Dealer in Jahangirpuri
During sustained questioning, both accused allegedly confessed and disclosed that the stolen DVR had been sold to a scrap dealer in Jahangirpuri. Acting on this information, police apprehended Aasu (18), son of Som Dutt, a resident of a jhuggi located in front of Mother Dairy, Jahangirpuri, who had allegedly purchased the stolen equipment.
Following remand, police recovered the stolen PWD CCTV hard disk, ₹48,000 in cash believed to represent the DVR's sale proceeds, and one Oppo mobile phone as case property.
Criminal Background of the Accused
Police records indicate that Danish Ansari has been implicated in four previous theft cases, while Arif Khan carries one prior case related to robbery. Aasu, the alleged scrap dealer purchaser, has no previous criminal record.
The case underscores a recurring vulnerability: government surveillance infrastructure, meant to deter crime, can itself become a target — particularly when those with installation knowledge later exploit it. With the stolen property and proceeds recovered, the investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
CCTV rollouts under Smart City and PWD programmes routinely use contract labour with limited post-project accountability. The fact that a DVR meant to deter crime ended up in a Jahangirpuri scrap yard within days of installation points to a gap in asset-tracking protocols that no amount of CCTV coverage can fix on its own.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen in the Seelampur CCTV theft case?
A government PWD CCTV DVR unit installed at J-Block in Seelampur, Delhi, was stolen on 27 July. The DVR, along with its hard disk, was later sold to a scrap dealer in Jahangirpuri.
Who were the three persons arrested by Delhi Police?
The arrested individuals are Danish Ansari and Arif Khan, both residents of Shri Ram Colony in Khajuri, and Aasu (18) of Jahangirpuri, who allegedly purchased the stolen DVR as scrap. Arif Khan had previously worked with the PWD during camera installation.
How did police solve the Seelampur DVR theft?
Police reviewed CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects, then used technical surveillance and local intelligence to trace and arrest them. Sustained questioning led to the disclosure of the scrap dealer, enabling a third arrest.
What items were recovered in the case?
Police recovered the stolen PWD CCTV hard disk, ₹48,000 in cash believed to be the sale proceeds of the stolen DVR, and one Oppo mobile phone as case property.
Under which legal sections was the case registered?
The case was registered at Seelampur Police Station under Sections 303(2) and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following an e-FIR filed on the complaint of Raees Khan.
