Delhi Police arrest man in Kabir Basti theft, recover 68g stolen jewellery
Synopsis
A 31-year-old man who regularly visited a Kabir Basti household allegedly used a key hanging on the wall to steal gold and silver jewellery — then sold part of it to fund gambling and substance use. Delhi Police traced him through neighbourhood leads, recovered 68.13 grams of ornaments in two stages, and found that some items had already been melted down at a local jewellery shop.
Key Takeaways
Kuldeep alias Rijul , 31 , was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with a house theft at Kabir Basti, Malka Ganj in North Delhi.
The theft took place on 26 October 2026 ; an e-FIR was registered on 30 October at Subzi Mandi police station under Sections 305 and 317(2) of the BNS .
Stolen jewellery weighing 68.13 grams was recovered in two stages — from the accused's rooftop and a jewellery shop near Ghanta Ghar .
The accused reportedly sold a broken ladies' ring for ₹23,000 and a necklace for ₹1.10 lakh , spending and losing the proceeds through gambling.
Police suspect his involvement in other theft cases in the area; verification is ongoing.
Delhi Police have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with a house theft at Kabir Basti in the Malka Ganj area of North Delhi, recovering stolen jewellery weighing 68.13 grams across two separate recovery operations, officials said on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The accused, a local resident familiar with the victim's household, allegedly exploited that familiarity to commit the theft.
The Theft and How It Was Discovered
The incident occurred on 26 October 2026 between 2 pm and 10 pm, when gold and silver ornaments were stolen from an almirah inside a residence in Kabir Basti, Malka Ganj. A complaint was filed on 30 October, following which an e-FIR (No. 80093530/2026) was registered at Subzi Mandi police station under Sections 305 and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Investigators formed a dedicated team comprising Head Constable Satyapal, Constable Shankar, and Constable Naveen, supervised by the Station House Officer of Subzi Mandi police station, to pursue the case.
Accused Identified and Arrested
The accused, identified as Kuldeep alias Rijul, is a resident of the same locality and was acquainted with the household. During questioning, he disclosed the location of some stolen jewellery, which police recovered from the rooftop of his residence on 31 October. He was subsequently arrested the same day.
On 1 November, he was produced before a court, which granted one day of police custody remand for further interrogation. During this period, he revealed that he had sold a broken ladies' ring and a necklace to a jewellery shop near Ghanta Ghar in the Subzi Mandi area. Police recovered the broken ring and a melted necklace from the shop and questioned the jeweller regarding the purchase.
How the Crime Was Committed
According to investigators, Kuldeep had been a frequent visitor to the victim's home and had previously noticed jewellery stored inside the almirah. He allegedly used a key hanging on the wall to open the almirah and steal the ornaments. He subsequently hid a portion of the jewellery on his rooftop and sold the rest.
The accused told investigators he needed funds to support substance use and gambling. He reportedly sold the broken ladies' ring for ₹23,000 and the necklace for ₹1.10 lakh, claiming to have spent part of the proceeds and lost the rest, along with some ornaments, through gambling.
Jewellery Recovered
The total recovery of 68.13 grams includes four men's rings weighing 17 grams, two ladies' rings weighing 4.93 grams, a mangalsutra with a beaded chain weighing 18.61 grams, a pair of tops weighing 7.64 grams, a broken ladies' ring weighing 3.66 grams, and a melted necklace weighing 16.29 grams.
Background on the Accused
Kuldeep alias Rijul, aged 31, is educated up to Class VIII and previously worked in AC servicing. Police said he is suspected of involvement in other theft cases in the locality, which are currently being verified. This case underscores a recurring pattern in urban theft cases where perpetrators exploit household familiarity — a vulnerability that investigators say is often underreported until significant losses occur.
Point of View
Where the perpetrator's familiarity with the household — and its security habits — does far more work than any technical break-in method. The fact that a key was left hanging on a wall and that the thief had previously noted the jewellery's location points to a lapse in basic household security, not a failure of policing. That a portion of the ornaments was already melted at a local shop also raises questions about due-diligence norms at small jewellers when purchasing gold from walk-in sellers — a gap that enables rapid laundering of stolen metal.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Kabir Basti house theft case in Delhi?
Delhi Police arrested Kuldeep alias Rijul, a 31-year-old resident of the same locality as the victim, in connection with the theft. He was arrested on 31 October 2026 after leading police to some of the stolen jewellery hidden on his rooftop.
What jewellery was stolen and how much was recovered?
Gold and silver ornaments were stolen from an almirah in a Kabir Basti residence on 26 October 2026. Police recovered a total of 68.13 grams of jewellery, including men's rings, ladies' rings, a mangalsutra, ear tops, a broken ring, and a melted necklace, in two separate recovery operations.
How did the accused carry out the theft?
According to investigators, Kuldeep alias Rijul was a frequent visitor to the victim's home and had previously observed jewellery stored in an almirah. He allegedly used a key hanging on the wall to open the almirah and steal the ornaments on 26 October, while the household was away.
What happened to the stolen jewellery after the theft?
The accused hid part of the stolen jewellery on the rooftop of his residence and sold a broken ladies' ring for ₹23,000 and a necklace for ₹1.10 lakh to a jewellery shop near Ghanta Ghar in the Subzi Mandi area. Some items were already melted down when police recovered them from the shop.
What sections were invoked in the FIR and is any further investigation ongoing?
An e-FIR was registered at Subzi Mandi police station on 30 October 2026 under Sections 305 and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said the accused is suspected of involvement in other theft cases in the locality, and verification is currently underway.
