Two Delhi Police personnel — a Sub-inspector from Kahsmere Gate police station and a Head Constable of the Special Cell — have been arrested for allegedly stealing 1,355 kg of sandalwood from a godown in North West Delhi’s Bhalswa Dairy.
The alleged theft took place on Tuesday evening when SI Anuj and HC Manoharlal along with two others visited the godown twice, first to conduct a reconnaissance on the pretext of making enquiries and then to take away bags full of the precious wood.
According to godown security guard Maniram, they were both wearing uniforms at the time of the theft. The godown is owned by Mohammad Ikhlaq who was not present there at the time of the incident.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West) Milind Dumbere while confirming the arrests did not disclose the identities of the other two accused.
In his statement, Maniram purportedly told police that he and his 11-year-old nephew were in the godown when two men were knocking the gate.
“One of them was wearing a police uniform and he asked me if the godown belonged to Tiku to which I named the real owner in response. Two others also came soon, one of them again wearing a police uniform and they asked me a few more details about the godown,” said Maniram in his complaint.
later that evening, all four accused returned and parked their car and a tempo they had driven to outside the godown.
“They asked me where the sandalwood was kept and when I did not reply, they snatched my phone. They broke a window to look into a locked room and saw the sandalwood. They asked me to open the lock and when I told them that I didn’t have the keys, they broke the lock and loaded the sandalwood in the tempo. Before leaving, they took out the SIM card from my phone,” said Maniram.