Delhi Police arrest two phone snatchers in East Delhi, recover 3 stolen mobiles
Synopsis
A CCTV trail from a scooter registration led Delhi Police to two Ghaziabad men behind a string of East Delhi phone snatchings. One of the accused carries a record of at least 12 prior criminal cases — a detail that raises pointed questions about repeat offender tracking in the capital.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's East District arrested Varun Sharma and Adil , both 23, from Khora Colony, Ghaziabad , on Tuesday in connection with mobile phone snatching in East Delhi .
Three stolen handsets — a Samsung A17 , a Samsung , and a Redmi — and a Honda Activa scooter were recovered.
The arrests resolved three criminal cases , including FIR No.
305/2026 registered at Police Station New Ashok Nagar .
Accused Adil has been named in at least 12 prior criminal cases across Delhi and Noida.
The breakthrough came through CCTV analysis of the scooter's registration, tracing it to a Noida printing company employee who had lent the vehicle to the suspects.
Delhi Police's East District on Tuesday, 3 June 2026, arrested two alleged mobile phone snatchers and recovered three stolen handsets along with a Honda Activa scooter used in the offence. The arrests, carried out by the staff of Police Station New Ashok Nagar, followed a targeted investigation combining CCTV analysis and technical surveillance.
Who Was Arrested
The two accused have been identified as Varun Sharma, 23, a resident of Indra Vihar, Khora Colony, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Adil, also 23, from the same locality. Sharma, who studied up to Class 10, works as a labourer in a printing company. Adil, who studied up to Class 8, is currently unemployed. According to police, Adil has been named in at least 12 earlier criminal cases across Delhi and Noida, involving robbery, theft, possession of stolen property, and snatching. Sharma was previously involved in a case at Sector-24 Police Station, Noida, under provisions related to possession of stolen property and the Arms Act.
How the Case Unfolded
The case was triggered on 28 May 2026, when a complainant reported that two men on a scooter had snatched his mobile phone on Shani Bazaar Road in the Kondli area of East Delhi as he was returning home from work. Police registered FIR No. 305/2026 under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A dedicated investigation team — comprising Sub-Inspector Sidhanshu, Head Constables Anil, Nitin, Bobby, and Ajit — was constituted under the supervision of the Station House Officer (SHO), New Ashok Nagar, and the overall guidance of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kalyanpuri.
The CCTV and Technical Trail
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding escape routes, identifying two suspects aboard a white Honda Activa bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number. The scooter was found to be registered in the name of a printing company in Sector-10, Noida. The company owner informed police that the vehicle was being used by an employee named Hrithik, who disclosed that he had lent it to Sharma and Adil on the day of the incident. Based on this lead, police conducted raids at multiple locations and apprehended both suspects.
Recoveries and Cases Solved
Following their arrest and production before the court, police obtained custody of both accused for interrogation. During questioning, both men allegedly confessed to their involvement. Their disclosures led to the recovery of the complainant's Samsung A17 handset, a Samsung mobile phone linked to a separate theft case, and a Redmi mobile phone connected to another snatching case. The Honda Activa scooter was also seized as evidence. In total, the operation helped resolve three criminal cases, including FIR No. 305/2026 and two separate electronic FIRs involving stolen handsets.
What Comes Next
Further investigation is underway, with police examining whether the accused may be linked to additional incidents reported across the city. Officials credited the outcome to coordinated teamwork, technical surveillance, and swift CCTV analysis, stating that the arrests are expected to deter street crime in East Delhi.
Point of View
The question is less about the investigation team's competence and more about whether the criminal justice pipeline — bail norms, case disposal speed, and repeat-offender flagging — is functioning at all. East Delhi's snatching problem is not new; it requires structural answers, not just arrest tallies.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two snatchers arrested by Delhi Police in East Delhi?
The two accused are Varun Sharma , 23, and Adil , 23, both residents of Indra Vihar, Khora Colony, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. They were arrested by the staff of Police Station New Ashok Nagar following a CCTV-based investigation into a phone snatching reported on 28 May 2026.
How many criminal cases has the accused Adil been involved in previously?
According to Delhi Police, Adil has been named in at least 12 earlier criminal cases registered at various police stations in Delhi and Noida, involving robbery, theft, possession of stolen property, and snatching.
What items were recovered in the East Delhi phone snatching case?
Police recovered three stolen mobile phones — a Samsung A17, a Samsung handset, and a Redmi phone — along with the Honda Activa scooter used in the offence. The recoveries helped resolve three separate criminal cases.
How did Delhi Police crack the mobile phone snatching case?
Investigators identified the suspects through CCTV footage showing them on a white Honda Activa with a UP registration number. Tracing the scooter to a Noida printing company and then to an employee who had lent it to the accused led police to Varun Sharma and Adil.
What FIR was registered in the East Delhi snatching case?
Police registered FIR No. 305/2026 at Police Station New Ashok Nagar under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after the complainant reported his phone was snatched on Shani Bazaar Road in the Kondli area of East Delhi on 28 May 2026.
