New Delhi

Delhi Police has arrested three men, including an employee of a jewellery trader, for allegedly stealing ₹54 lakh in Chandni Chowk in north Delhi, an official said on Saturday.

The accused have been identified as Rupesh Kumar (24), Sachin alias Vikas (24) and Pawan Kumar (21), all residents of Sonia Vihar in northeast Delhi.

According to Aditya Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), the case was registered on February 6 after a bullion trader alleged that his employee Rupesh had absconded with ₹54 lakh that was entrusted to him for a transaction in the market on February 5.

Acting on specific information that suspects involved in the theft would gather to distribute the stolen money, police laid a trap near Khazoori Khas Flyover on March 5.

Rupesh and Sachin were arrested at the spot, while their associate Pawan was later apprehended from Sonia Vihar, police said.

During interrogation, Rupesh told investigators that he worked for the bullion trader and was responsible for collecting and delivering payments in the market.

Police said he hatched the plan with his friends after noticing the large amounts of cash handled by his employer.

On February 5, when he was handed ₹54 lakh to purchase silver from another trader, he allegedly fled with the cash and went into hiding with his associates.

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During the operation, police recovered ₹27 lakh in cash from Rupesh, ₹2.5 lakh from Sachin and ₹2 lakh from Pawan. Officers also seized deposit receipts worth ₹8 lakh and a car from Pawan, officials added.