How did a Delhi Police head constable manage to steal cash and jewellery worth crores?

A major theft at the Delhi Police Special Cell in Lodhi Colony has led to the arrest of a head constable, Khurshid, after cash and jewellery worth several crores went missing from the maalkhana, the police station’s secure storage facility.

According to officials, the theft occurred in the early hours of May 31, with Khurshid allegedly using duplicate keys he had made while previously posted at the maalkhana. He accessed the store undetected and stole Rs 50 lakh in cash and jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore. The items were later recovered from his car during a raid at his residence in Indirapuram, following phone surveillance.

Khurshid, who was transferred to the East district in April, had long served with the Special Cell and was familiar with the security protocols and layout of the maalkhana. His prior access allowed him to execute the theft without raising suspicion. At the time of the incident, staff reportedly assumed he was on official duty due to his past association with the unit.


CCTV footage captured Khurshid faintly at around 2 a.m., wearing a helmet and a mask to obscure his identity while allegedly attempting to tamper with the entry register. He left the storeroom door open upon exiting, which led to the discovery of the theft the following morning.

Sources indicate that this may not have been an isolated incident. At least three previous thefts from the same maalkhana are now under investigation, suggesting the possibility of an ongoing scam. Authorities are also examining whether maalkhana inventory records were being updated regularly.

The incident has prompted serious concerns over internal oversight and procedural lapses. The maalkhana was under the supervision of Inspector Shiv Darshan, ACP Rahul Vikram, and DCP (now Additional CP) Pratiksha Godara. A source confirmed that Khurshid had officially left the Special Cell only days before the theft, despite being relieved on paper in April.

Questions have been raised regarding the integrity of the internal investigation, as the same unit where the theft occurred is handling the probe. It is suspected more people including seniors who could have also been involved in the maalkhana case.

A former Special Cell officer cited a similar lapse during the Nadir Shah case in 2023, where the investigating unit had direct involvement in the incident.

An FIR of theft has been registered by the Special Cell, and a vigilance inquiry is expected to follow.

(With inputs from TOI)