'Freelance reporter' among 4 held for Rs 50 lakh jewellery

Four persons, including a 'freelance reporter', have been arrested for allegedly stealing jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh in Shahdara area, police said today.

Nitesh Jain, who owns a shop in Chandni Chowk of providing jewellery on commission basis, told police two days ago that two men fled with his jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh, said DCP (Shahdara) Nupur Prasad.

"Jain told police that he came in contact with Jitender and Vijay Gahlot through a common friend in dealing of his property. Gahlot contacted him to purchase jewellery since there was a wedding at his uncle and aunt's place," said the officer.
 

He also arranged a meeting between Jain and his "uncle and aunt" at Rail Yatri Niwas on January 9 to gain Jain's trust.

However, on January 17, Gahlot convinced Jain to meet at River Height Plaza Market, Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad for payment of the jewellery, she said.

They had 'samosas' and when Jain got off the car to wash his hands, the accused fled with the jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh.

A team comprising inspector MC Pandey, SHO(Krishna Nagar) and other cops was constituted under the supervision of ACP (Gandhi Nagar) Khushal Pal Singh.

The team developed information on basis of car used in the crime and from the CCTV footage they obtained from Rail Yatri Niwas, police got the pictures of the "uncle and aunt".

"A trap was laid and Gahlot and Jitender alias Jeetu were arrested. During interrogation, Gahlot and Jeetu disclosed that they came to know that Jain provides jewellery on commission basis.

"In association with Surender Singh and Kavita, who played the roles of his 'uncle and aunt' they planned to cheat him," she said.

The 21 ornaments weighing 1862 gram comprising eight necklaces, four bangles, one pendant set and seven pairs of earrings have been recovered, the DCP said.

While Jeetu has been previously involved in theft cases, Gahlot carried a card that had 'reporter' written on it and he claimed that he is a freelance journalist, she said.