Did Delhi Police Just Arrest One of Their Own for Stealing Rs 50 Lakh and Gold?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Police arrested Head Constable Khurshid for theft.
- Stolen items included Rs 50 lakh and gold jewelry.
- CCTV footage led to his identification.
- Special Cell manages serious crime investigations.
- Authority investigates police misconduct.
New Delhi, June 2 (NationPress) Unveiling the criminal mindset present among some members of the police force, the Delhi Police apprehended one of their own for pilfering Rs 50 lakh and precious items from the anti-terror unit’s warehouse in South Delhi, as confirmed by an official on Monday.
Head Constable Khurshid, recently reassigned from the Special Cell to the East District, was taken into custody on Saturday for allegedly stealing Rs 50 lakh in cash along with an undisclosed quantity of gold jewelry from the Special Cell's malkhana (storeroom) located at the Lodhi Road office, the official noted.
His identity was established and he was arrested after reviewing CCTV footage from Friday night when the theft occurred, with the stolen items subsequently recovered.
Officials indicated that Khurshid had utilized inside knowledge regarding the valuables and cash stored in the malkhana to orchestrate the theft.
Despite executing his plan with precision, Khurshid would have evaded capture if not for an alert malkhana in-charge who noticed discrepancies in the warehouse, the police reported.
Previously, Khurshid was assigned to the malkhana but was transferred to East Delhi just days before the incident, an official stated.
“He was well-informed about the items stored in the warehouse and the procedures for accessing them,” he added.
It is alleged that he timed his theft around the period of his transfer to shift suspicion onto his colleagues in the Special Cell’s malkhana.
The Special Cell is a dedicated unit of the Delhi Police responsible for preventing, detecting, and investigating incidents of terrorism, organized crime, and other severe offenses in Delhi.
While criminal acts committed by police personnel are examined by their peers, allegations of misconduct towards the public are scrutinized by the Delhi Government’s Police Complaints Authority.
Chairperson Justice Poonam A. Bamba, a former Judge of the Delhi High Court, noted in the Annual Report 2023-24 that a total of 1,688 complaints were received and carried forward in that timeframe.
During the year, 649 cases were resolved, leaving 1,039 cases pending. The disposal rate stood at 38.44 percent.
The Authority also holds the power to investigate public complaints concerning extortion, land or house grabbing, and other serious abuses of power. Complaints regarding illegal detention, police custody deaths, or serious injuries in police custody are also examined by the Authority.