Solving Crime: How 3 Maharashtra cops worked at a brick kiln in UP to solve robbery case

In 2023, gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 21.26 lakh was stolen from a house in Dombivli, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The hunt for the accused led the police to UP.

2 min readMumbaiUpdated: Feb 28, 2025 07:45 AM IST

After reaching UP, the policemen decided to stay in the village without alerting Rajbhar. They decided to pose as brick kiln workers. (File Image)

Two years ago, three policemen from Dombivli, on the outskirts of Mumbai, travelled to Uttar Pradesh to catch a man they suspected was involved in a house break-in. But the accused, Rajesh Rajbhar, was in hiding and could not be traced. It was then that the police team came up with an ingenious solution that helped them crack the case: they decided to work in a local brick kiln.

In August 2023, a Dombivli resident approached the police, saying that when he returned home after a visit to his native village, he found that his house had been broken into. Gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 21.26 lakh had been stolen, the man told the police.

As the probe began, the police looked for CCTV footage from the area and narrowed down on Rajbhar, an alleged history-sheeter who had been booked in multiple cases of theft. When the police began searching for Rajbhar, they found out that he hailed from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. The police received information that he had fled to a village in the district and was hiding there.

After reaching UP, the policemen decided to stay in the village without alerting Rajbhar. They decided to pose as brick kiln workers. Since many of the workers migrated from different parts of the country, the men took up the job without arousing suspicion. Over the next 10 days, the police team interacted with locals and gathered inputs on Rajbhar’s location.

Rajbhar was then apprehended and brought to Mumbai.

The police claimed that Rajbhar was accused in over 20 cases of theft in Dombivli, Thane, Palghar and other areas on the outskirts of Mumbai. He was arrested in a few cases and later granted bail, the police added.

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

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