A domestic worker allegedly planned and executed a fake Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on her employer’s home in Delhi, orchestrating a theft of cash and luxury goods worth several lakh rupees in a scheme that investigators have compared to the plot of the 2013 Akshay Kumar film Special 26. Two women have been arrested, while three men including a serving Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable remain at large.
The targeted residence belongs to RC Sabharwal, an 86-year-old retired architect living in New Friends Colony. Earlier this month, three men arrived at the house dressed in police-style uniforms and introduced themselves as ED officers on an official search mission. They allegedly confiscated the family’s mobile phones, confined members inside a room, and began searching the premises. The operation was interrupted when Sabharwal’s grandson confronted the intruders, prompting them to flee the scene. The suspects made off with an estimated Rs 3–4 lakh in cash and seven high-end watches.
Delhi Police launched a multi-pronged investigation anchored in CCTV analysis and digital surveillance. Investigators reviewed footage from more than 350 cameras spanning private security systems, city surveillance networks, and traffic cameras to trace the suspects’ movements from New Friends Colony through Sarai Kale Khan, across the Ghazipur border into Uttar Pradesh, and ultimately to Ghaziabad, where the getaway vehicle was located.
Mobile tower dump data further helped investigators identify phone numbers that were active at both the crime scene and the vehicle’s parking spot during the relevant window. This digital trail pointed to the Ghaziabad residence of Pooja Rajput. Local inquiries revealed that the household help, Rekha Devi, was a frequent visitor to the same address. Authorities subsequently confirmed that Rajput is Devi’s sister-in-law.
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A raid at Rajput’s home yielded items allegedly used in the staged operation: a Deputy Commandant-rank ITBP uniform, counterfeit identity cards, a wireless communication device, and a pistol with an expired licence. Police also recovered the stolen jewellery and all seven luxury watches, directly linking the accused to the crime.
Investigators have identified 40-year-old Rekha Devi as the principal conspirator. Rajput has been named a co-accused. Both women are currently in custody. The three absconding suspects have been identified as Prakash, an active ITBP constable; Manish; and Updesh Singh Thapa, a retired Army personnel. The Baleno car used in the robbery is registered in Thapa’s name. Authorities said efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the rest of the stolen assets are ongoing.
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