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For 15 days, Mahender Dan, a driver for a businesswoman in South Delhi’s Anand Niketan, sat staring at a collection of expensive accessories in his home in Indokha, a sleepy village in Rajasthan. The haul — which he had allegedly stolen from his employer over a month — included Rolexes, gold-plated Roger Dubuis watches, Hublot watches, solitaires, emeralds, and diamonds worth a whopping Rs 4 crore.
“He had stolen all of it, but was unsure how and what to do about the proceeds as none of it was cash,” a police officer said.
On Thursday, the Delhi Police said they arrested Dan for allegedly stealing valuables from his employer’s locker when she was out during Navratri festivities. Dan had been working as her driver for the past four years.
Police said the case came to light when Dan’s employer, who was already suspicious after noticing that her locker looked ‘light’ during Navratri, found it was empty after the festivities commenced. A case was registered on September 28 at the South Campus police station.
“The investigation revealed that the accused had been working as the victim’s driver for four years and knew the exact location of the locker. Taking advantage, when his employer was not present at the house, he stole gold and diamond ornaments during a one-month period between August 28 and September 29,” DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel said.
The stolen items included pear-shaped diamond solitaire rings, 3-carat diamond earrings, a tennis bracelet, and luxury watches from brands like Hublot, Rolex, and Roger Dubious, the police said. “He concealed the ornaments at his village in Rajasthan and continued working as if nothing had happened,” a police officer said.
Police said Dan was arrested on November 23 from Indokha in Makrana, which falls under Rajasthan’s Nagore district, after the Anti-Burglary Cell team tracked him through technical and manual surveillance.
The breakthrough, police said, came when chance prints lifted from the crime scene matched Dan’s fingerprints.
“After the case was transferred to the Anti-Burglary Cell on November 21, the team conducted thorough checks and identified the suspect through manual intelligence. The team travelled to Rajasthan and successfully apprehended him,” DCP Goel said.
The police claim that during questioning, Dan admitted to the theft as he was not earning a sufficient salary to meet his basic needs.
“He disclosed that during Navratri, he took advantage of the opportunity when the owner was not present and stole the jewellery. He then went to his hometown and concealed the stolen ornaments at his house. He kept two gold biscuits at his newly rented accommodation in Bihari Colony, Shahdara,” DCP Goel said.
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