The Delhi Police have successfully apprehended Malik, the primary suspect in a major house theft case in Defence Colony, after a meticulous investigation spanning multiple states. Malik, who had orchestrated the heist with the help of an associate, Dharmendra Dass, was arrested after a series of raids and technical surveillance.
The theft took place on December 26, 2024, when the house owner was away. A PCR call reporting the break-in was received at Defence Colony Police Station, and the case was registered under Section 306 (theft by servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A complaint was filed by an acquaintance of the house owner, who reported the theft of gold jewelry and cash. The investigation revealed that Malik had been employed as a servant at the house starting on December 14, 2024, but disappeared after the incident. Suspicion arose when his phone was found switched off, prompting the police to look deeper into his movements.
With the help of technical surveillance and call detail records, the police traced Malik’s last known location to Chirag in Delhi. Further investigation revealed that he had fled to his native village in Balasore, Odisha. A police team was dispatched to Balasore, where local assistance led to the detention of Dharmendra Dass, also known as Raja, on March 12, 2025.
During subsequent raids in Malik’s village, a significant portion of the stolen valuables, including gold jewelry and Rs 6 lakh in cash, was recovered from Malik’s wife. These included five gold ear tops, six gold earrings, six gold bangles, one gold ear piece, one gold necklace, one gold bracelet, one motimala (pearl necklace), and twelve silver items. Malik’s wife has been bound down in connection with the case, and based on her statement, further stolen items were traced to Prabhakar Sahu, a goldsmith who had purchased part of the stolen jewelry.
Police later learned that Malik had moved to Bengaluru, Karnataka, and was working as a cook in a residential society in Peenya. A trap was set, and Malik was apprehended in Bengaluru.
In addition to Malik, his wife, the goldsmith Prabhakar Sahu, and another accomplice, Ratiranjan Malik, who helped dispose of the stolen items, have all been bound down under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The successful resolution of this case marks a significant achievement for the Delhi Police, with authorities commending the swift, multi-state operation that led to the arrest of the key criminals and the recovery of stolen valuables.
