One 60-year-old man was killed in a robbery attempt at his home in Delhi’s Rohini area, with police identifying his niece as the alleged mastermind behind the crime. The woman knew that her uncle had recently sold a property for around ₹80 lakh and converted the money into gold, the investigators said.
The victim was identified as Rakesh Khanna, a resident of Sector 3, Rohini. Three people have been arrested in connection with the case, including Khanna’s 23-year-old niece Simran Taneja, who is absconding, police said.
The accused planned the robbery after learning about the money and gold kept at Khanna’s house, an investigation revealed. The group reportedly went around to look at the house before committing the robbery, investigators said.
Niece Allegedly Knew About ₹80 Lakh Deal
Police suspect that Simran knew about Khanna's recent property transaction and the valuables he had at home.
Khanna had sold a flat for around ₹80 lakh and had converted the money into gold, investigators say. Simran used this information to plan a robbery with her boyfriend Himanshu and two other associates, Chirag and Paras.
The accused allegedly did a recce of Khanna’s home on August 30, two days before the murder. CCTV images from the area were examined and suspicious movements were detected that allowed investigators to trace the alleged plan.
Family Sent To Fair Before Alleged Attack
Police said Simran ensured that Khanna would be alone at home when the robbery took place.
According to the investigation, she persuaded her aunt, Khanna's wife, and other family members to go to a local fair. This left Khanna alone at the house.
Investigators said the group then moved ahead with the robbery. Simran and Himanshu remained outside the building to keep watch, while Chirag and Paras entered the house, said investigators.
Police sources said Simran had access to a duplicate key, which allegedly allowed the accused to enter the apartment. Other reports said two of the accused initially attempted to enter while posing as delivery workers.
A 23-year-old woman and her boyfriend strangled a 60-year-old man at his home in Delhi during a robbery, and fled with cash worth Rs 1.5 lakh and gold jewellery, police said on Wednesday.
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Police have arrested three people, including the woman who is a relative of the victim and… pic.twitter.com/nxJmE5eLaX
60-Year-Old Man Found Unconscious
The incident took place on Tuesday evening.
According to police, three people entered Khanna's house around 7.30 pm, while another person allegedly kept watch outside. His wife returned home at around 8.15 pm and found the house completely ransacked. Khanna was found lying unconscious in the house.
Family members rushed him to Jaipur Golden Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police initially looked into a robbery that had turned fatal. The house was searched, and valuables were missing, they said.
The family reported that around ₹1.5 lakh in cash and some gold jewellery were missing from the house.
Main Gold Stash Was Not Found
Despite allegedly targeting Khanna's wealth, the accused reportedly failed to locate most of the gold.
According to the investigation, Khanna had kept the bulk of the gold hidden. The suspects searched the house but did not find the main stash.
Police said only around ₹1.5 lakh in cash and some jewellery were taken from the house. Investigators have since recovered around ₹70,000 in cash and some of the stolen gold jewellery.
The alleged robbery did not produce the amount of gold that the accused were reportedly expecting to find.
Police Arrest Niece And Two Associates
The investigation moved quickly after police examined CCTV footage, mobile phone details, and other evidence.
Police identified Simran Taneja as the alleged main conspirator. She is a primary school teacher. Chirag, described as a gym trainer, and Paras, a Class XII student, were also arrested in connection with the case.
Himanshu, identified as Simran's alleged boyfriend and a gym owner, is absconding, according to police. Teams have been conducting raids to locate him.
A case relating to murder and robbery has been registered at South Rohini police station.
Investigation Into Murder And Robbery Continues
Police are now examining the alleged planning behind the crime, the sequence of events inside the house, and the exact roles played by each accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohini Shashank Jaiswal said the motive, sequence of events, and planning were still being ascertained as investigators questioned the accused.
The investigation will also focus on recovering the remaining stolen valuables and locating the absconding accused.
While police have alleged that the robbery was linked to Khanna's recent property sale and the gold he purchased with the proceeds, the full circumstances of the case will be established through the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.
