Special 26-Inspired Heist in Delhi: Fake CBI Officers Rob Businessman’s House, Caught After Week-Long Hunt
New Delhi – In a daring, Bollywood-style heist, three individuals posing as CBI officers conducted a fake raid at a businessman’s residence in North Delhi and escaped with cash and jewellery worth lakhs. The accused – a woman, a shopkeeper, and an unemployed youth – meticulously planned the operation, taking inspiration from the movie Special 26, before being tracked down and arrested by the Delhi Police after a week-long chase.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia said that the trio was nabbed from Haridwar and Mussoorie following detailed investigations. According to police reports, the 22-year-old woman, a distant relative of the businessman, was aware of the valuables kept at his Wazirabad home. She roped in Keshav Prasad (28), a shop owner from Haridwar, and Vivek Singh (20), an unemployed youth from Johripur, to execute the plan.
The Fake CBI Raid
On the evening of July 10, the trio arrived at the businessman’s house dressed like law enforcement officials – white shirts, black trousers, and masks covering their faces. They introduced themselves as officers from the CBI’s Okhla branch, claiming to be acting on an FIR.
When questioned about official documentation, the imposters snapped at the family and demanded full cooperation. They proceeded to open a cupboard and “seized” ₹3 lakh in cash and several pieces of gold and silver jewellery.
When the victim’s family asked for a seizure receipt, one of the accused scribbled a few lines and signed with a fake name in a notebook belonging to the victim’s daughter. Suspicious of the situation, the family contacted the police – but the imposters had already fled the scene.
The Investigation and Arrest
Police immediately launched an investigation, scanning footage from over 200 CCTV cameras in the area. The breakthrough came when a motorcycle spotted outside the house during the raid was traced back to Keshav Prasad in Karawal Nagar. However, he was missing from his residence.
Using mobile phone tracking and technical surveillance, police discovered that the trio was moving between Haridwar and Mussoorie. After days of pursuit, Keshav Prasad and the woman were apprehended in Mussoorie on July 18, while Vivek Singh was arrested the same day in Haridwar.
The Confession and Recovery
During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. The woman admitted to knowing about the cash and jewellery from previous family visits and orchestrated the fake raid. Keshav, who ran a food supplement shop, was brought in as a partner, and he enlisted his neighbor Vivek for help.
The trio meticulously planned their roles, purchasing formal clothes and rehearsing how to impersonate officials. After the robbery, they checked into hotels, frequently changed locations, and even spent part of the loot on luxury and travel.
Police recovered ₹1.75 lakh in cash, 29 gold and silver ornaments, and the motorcycle used in the crime. All three accused are currently in custody, facing charges of impersonation, theft, and criminal conspiracy.
