4 personnel of Uttarakhand Excise and Taxation department held: Shimla police

Four personnel from the Uttarakhand Excise and Taxation Department were apprehended in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, in connection with a theft of valuables exceeding Rs 1 crore from a Shimla hotelier's residence, according to Shimla police. The joint operation between Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand police led to the arrest of the four accused and the seizure of a majority of the stolen property, including jewelry and other valuable items.

The hotelier, Renu Baljees, identified the recovered articles. The investigation revealed that Baljees reported the theft on September 8, alleging that her housemaid, along with associates, had stolen the valuables on September 7. The investigation uncovered that the domestic help, Karishma from Nepal, played a crucial role in the theft.

After ingesting a sedative in the food, Baljees became unconscious, allowing Karishma to join three associates in stealing jewelry, silver coins, expensive watches, and cash. Based on Baljees' complaint, a case was registered under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The suspects' movements were traced through CCTV footage and other evidence, leading to their arrest at the Rudrapur-Rampur border.

The four Uttarakhand personnel were identified as Sub-Inspector Devendra Kumar, 56, Constable Baljeet Singh, 35, and PRD Constables Naeem, 36, and Pappu Lal, 37, all residents of Uttarakhand. Shimla SSP Gaurav Singh stated that the four suspects had connections with the housemaid and her associates, who were hired through an online portal, and are awaiting further interrogation.