Delhi police bust gold earring snatching gang in 24 hours, 3 arrested
Synopsis
Delhi police cracked a gold earring snatching in under 24 hours — using CCTV to trace a motorcycle to its owner, then unravelling a chain that led to two snatchers and a receiver who had already flipped the jewellery twice. One of the accused carries over 17 prior criminal involvements including robbery and the Arms Act.
Key Takeaways
Mansarovar Park police arrested three men — Puneet (23) , Vikas alias Puchchi (38) , and Arjun (36) — all residents of Nand Nagri , East Delhi.
The gold earring was snatched from complainant Guddi Devi near Durgapuri Flyover on 9 September 2026 ; the case was solved within 24 hours .
CCTV footage captured the accused and the motorcycle's registration number, enabling the breakthrough.
Receiver Arjun allegedly bought the earring for ₹8,000 and resold it for approximately ₹10,500 to an unidentified person in B-Block, Nand Nagri .
Vikas alias Puchchi has more than 17 previous criminal involvements and is listed as an active Bad Character at Police Station Nand Nagri.
Police are continuing efforts to trace the subsequent buyer and recover the stolen gold earring.
Mansarovar Park police in New Delhi arrested two alleged snatchers and a receiver of stolen property on 13 September 2026, cracking a gold earring snatching case within 24 hours of the incident. The accused — identified as Puneet, Vikas alias Puchchi, and Arjun — are all residents of Nand Nagri in East Delhi.
How the Snatching Unfolded
A PCR call was received at Mansarovar Park police station on 9 September, after complainant Guddi Devi reported that two men on a motorcycle snatched a gold earring from her left ear near Durgapuri Flyover. She had been travelling on a motorcycle with her nephew when the accused allegedly rode up from behind, with the pillion rider grabbing the earring before both men fled towards Durgapuri.
CCTV Evidence and the Motorcycle Trail
Investigators examined the crime scene, prepared a site plan, and analysed CCTV footage from the surrounding area. The footage yielded clear images of the alleged accused and captured the registration number of the motorcycle used in the crime. The bike was traced to its registered owner, Meenakshi, who told police it was being used by her brother Puneet. Puneet was apprehended at his residence and the motorcycle was recovered.
During interrogation, Puneet allegedly disclosed his association with Vikas alias Puchchi, 38, who was subsequently arrested from Nand Nagri bus stand. A court granted the pair a one-day police custody remand.
The Receiver: How the Earring Changed Hands
Further questioning led police to a third accused — Arjun, 36 — identified as the alleged receiver of the stolen jewellery. According to police, Puneet and Vikas disclosed that they sold the gold earring to Arjun near Tahirpur Gurudwara for approximately ₹8,000. Arjun allegedly admitted to buying the earring and reselling it for around ₹10,500 to an unidentified buyer in B-Block, Nand Nagri. As the stolen property was no longer in his possession, he was arrested following due legal procedure.
Criminal Background of the Accused
According to police, all three accused have been linked to three other cases registered at Mansarovar Park police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Puneet, 23, has one prior criminal involvement. Vikas alias Puchchi, however, carries a far heavier record — more than 17 previous criminal involvements spanning robbery, snatching, theft, and the Arms Act. He is also listed as an active Bad Character (BC) at Police Station Nand Nagri, indicating a habitual offender designation under Delhi Police records.
This is not an isolated incident; the accused's prior record suggests a pattern of street crime in the Shahdara district area that predates this case by several years.
What Happens Next
Police said efforts are continuing to identify the subsequent buyer of the gold earring in B-Block, Nand Nagri, with the goal of recovering the stolen property. The investigation into the trio's involvement in the three linked cases at Mansarovar Park is also ongoing.
Point of View
But it also underscores a persistent enforcement gap: Vikas alias Puchchi's 17-plus prior cases suggest that repeat offenders cycle through the system without effective deterrence. The receiver angle is equally telling; a functioning grey market for snatched jewellery in localised neighbourhoods like Nand Nagri enables the crime economics that make snatching worthwhile in the first place. Closing that secondary market is as important as catching the primary perpetrators.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three people arrested in the Delhi gold earring snatching case?
The three arrested are Puneet (23), Vikas alias Puchchi (38), and Arjun (36) — all residents of Nand Nagri in East Delhi. Puneet and Vikas are the alleged snatchers, while Arjun is accused of receiving and reselling the stolen gold earring.
How did Delhi police solve the gold snatching case within 24 hours?
Police analysed CCTV footage from near Durgapuri Flyover, which captured clear images of the accused and the motorcycle's registration number. The bike was traced to its registered owner, whose brother Puneet was then arrested, leading investigators to Vikas and subsequently to the receiver Arjun.
What happened to the stolen gold earring?
According to police, the snatchers sold the gold earring near Tahirpur Gurudwara to Arjun for approximately ₹8,000. Arjun allegedly resold it for around ₹10,500 to an unidentified buyer in B-Block, Nand Nagri. Police are still working to trace that buyer and recover the earring.
What is the criminal background of the accused?
Vikas alias Puchchi has more than 17 previous criminal involvements in robbery, snatching, theft, and Arms Act cases, and is designated an active Bad Character at Police Station Nand Nagri. Puneet has one prior criminal involvement. All three have been linked to three additional cases at Mansarovar Park police station under BNS provisions.
Where did the gold earring snatching take place in Delhi?
The snatching occurred near Durgapuri Flyover in East Delhi on 9 September 2026. The complainant, Guddi Devi, was on a motorcycle with her nephew when the accused rode up from behind and snatched the earring from her left ear before fleeing towards Durgapuri.
