Delhi police arrest 5 in armed robbery, recover 21 gold chains and ₹2.31 lakh cash
Synopsis
Five men — including a repeat offender with 19 prior cases — were arrested for robbing a goldsmith of 21 gold chains and ₹3 lakh in cash in Delhi's Mandawali. What makes this case remarkable is how the accused tried to vanish: three clothing changes, abandoned vehicles, and a phone thrown into a moving car. Police still tracked them down by combing through 600 CCTV cameras over 10 days.
Key Takeaways
East District Police arrested five accused in the armed robbery of goldsmith Sukumar Dhara in Mandawali, Delhi .
The robbery occurred on 3 May 2025 at 10:30 pm ; stolen items included 23 gold chains , gold pieces, ₹3 lakh cash, and a mobile phone.
Police recovered 21 gold chains (approx.
250 gm ) and ₹2.31 lakh cash — around 90% of the robbed property.
Investigators analysed more than 600 CCTV cameras over 10 days to trace the accused to a hideout in Jafrabad, North East Delhi .
Main accused Vijay Kumar (30) has 19 previous criminal cases registered against him.
The accused attempted to evade detection by changing clothes three times , abandoning the stolen scooty, and discarding the victim's phone into a moving vehicle.
East District Police of Delhi have cracked a high-profile armed robbery case, arresting five accused — including two main perpetrators and three accomplices — nearly 12 days after a goldsmith was robbed at gunpoint in Mandawali on the night of 3 May 2025. Investigators have recovered 21 stolen gold chains weighing approximately 250 gm and cash of ₹2.31 lakh, accounting for roughly 90 per cent of the robbed property.
How the Robbery Unfolded
Sukumar Dhara, a goldsmith who has operated his shop in Mandawali for 22 years, was returning home on his scooty after closing for the evening when two armed assailants intercepted him at around 10:30 pm. The robbers made off with 23 gold chains, loose gold pieces, ₹3 lakh in cash, and his mobile phone. An FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was subsequently registered at Preet Vihar Police Station.
The Investigation: 600 Cameras and 10 Days
Because the exact crime spot lacked CCTV coverage, joint teams drawn from the Special Staff East District and Preet Vihar Police Station — working under senior officers — spent 10 days analysing more than 600 CCTV cameras spread across multiple routes. The accused were tracked from the crime site through Vikas Marg, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Signature Bridge, Bhajanpura, and Ghonda, before investigators traced them to a hideout in the Jafrabad area of North East Delhi.
How the Accused Tried to Evade Capture
According to police, the accused made elaborate attempts to shake surveillance. They abandoned the stolen scooty, changed clothes three times, switched between multiple modes of transport, and threw the victim's mobile phone into a moving vehicle to generate misleading technical leads. Despite these countermeasures, investigators reconstructed the complete escape trail using CCTV footage, technical evidence, and local intelligence.
Who Was Arrested
The five accused have been identified as Vijay Kumar (30), a cab driver from Jagjeet Nagar with 19 prior criminal cases on record; Sunil (35), a customer care executive from Mandawali; Arjun (26), a cab driver from Ghonda; Anand (21), a store operator from Mandawali; and Harish (42), a property dealer from Mandawali. Police said Vijay Kumar and Sunil carried out the robbery directly, while Arjun and Anand conducted advance reconnaissance and Harish served as an informer. In addition to the gold chains and cash, police also seized the looted jewellery bag, a fluorescent jacket, clothing worn during the offence, a helmet, and a backpack used in the crime.
What Officials Said
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rajeev Kumar said the breakthrough came through coordinated field operations, technical surveillance, and sustained CCTV analysis. Further investigation into the case is ongoing, according to police.
Point of View
A well-coordinated five-person gang, and a deliberate counter-surveillance playbook. That investigators still closed it in under a fortnight — by stitching together 600 cameras across multiple districts — signals meaningful improvement in Delhi Police's technical capacity. The more uncomfortable detail is that the lead accused carried 19 prior cases; the system had flagged him repeatedly without preventing re-offending. Better conviction rates and bail scrutiny matter as much as investigative agility.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen in the Mandawali goldsmith robbery in Delhi?
Armed robbers intercepted goldsmith Sukumar Dhara on 3 May 2025 and took 23 gold chains, loose gold pieces, ₹3 lakh in cash, and his mobile phone. Police have since recovered 21 gold chains and ₹2.31 lakh — roughly 90% of the stolen property.
Who are the five accused arrested by Delhi Police?
The five accused are Vijay Kumar (30), a cab driver with 19 prior criminal cases; Sunil (35), a customer care executive; Arjun (26), a cab driver; Anand (21), a store operator; and Harish (42), a property dealer. Vijay Kumar and Sunil carried out the robbery, while the others provided reconnaissance and inside information.
How did Delhi Police track down the accused?
Because the crime spot had no CCTV, joint teams from Special Staff East District and Preet Vihar Police Station analysed over 600 cameras across multiple routes over 10 days, tracing the accused from the crime scene through Vikas Marg, Signature Bridge, and Bhajanpura to a hideout in Jafrabad.
What steps did the robbers take to avoid being caught?
The accused abandoned the stolen scooty, changed clothes three times, used multiple modes of transport, and threw the victim's mobile phone into a moving vehicle to create false technical leads. Police reconstructed their escape trail despite these efforts.
What legal action has been taken in the case?
An FIR was registered at Preet Vihar Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All five accused have been arrested and further investigation is ongoing, according to police.
