Mohali couple arrested for ‘stealing’ doctor’s bag in PGIMER

The accused couple was identified as Sneh Lata, 27, and her husband, Gagandeep Singh, 28, of Sector 80 in Mohali.

Sources said the couple claimed during interrogation that Gagandeep Singh’s mother is a cancer patient and they had brought her to the NHE in PGI for her routine checkup on October 13. (Express Photo by Jasbir Malhi)

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The police recently arrested a couple for allegedly stealing a bag containing valuable items belonging to a senior doctor at the Department of Radiotherapy in the Nehru Hospital Extension (NHE) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.

The accused couple was identified as Sneh Lata, 27, and her husband, Gagandeep Singh, 28, of Sector 80 in Mohali. The police said both the accused were drug addicts and stole the bag hoping to get a lot of cash.

The police said that almost all the valuables in the bag, including a Mac Apple laptop, a mobile phone, two chargers, a gold chain, a wallet, car keys, a PAN card, ATM cards, a thermos, etc were recovered. They added that a diamond ring, which the doctor claimed was in the bag, had not been recovered yet.

Sources said the couple spent about Rs 5,000 that was in the bag.

“The bag was stolen on October 13. We zeroed in on two suspects by scanning footage captured by CCTV cameras installed in the PGI. The laptop was put on surveillance. The last location of the stolen laptop was found in Sector 10 in Panchkula. A team visited Sector 10 and learnt about the male suspect, Gagandeep Singh. Cops were informed that Gagandeep and his wife were addicts. We developed human intelligence and apprehended them at the border of Chandigarh and Mohali. The bag was recovered from them,” a police officer said.

Gagandeep Singh is unemployed and his wife has been working at a call centre. The police said they got married recently. A case was registered at the Sector 11 police station.

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In September, a 22-year-old autorickshaw driver was arrested for multiple thefts at the PGIMER. The authorities recovered three laptops and 25 cell phones from the man identified as Dhiraj, one of which belonged to Dr Padma Gurmad of the Radio Diagnosis department.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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