New Delhi: The police have busted a cross-border smuggling racket allegedly involving a Delhi-based couple, who sourced stolen mobiles from gangs and later sold them in Nepal.
Four people, including the couple Arjun (26) and Ruksar (24), along with their aides Himanshu (19) and Jagarnath Kumar Yadav (28), were arrested by the central district police. Another accused is still on the run.
The stolen phones were delivered in Nepal via Bihar land border, the police said, adding that as many as 53 cases against the accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Harsha Vardhan Mandava said his team laid a trap based on a tip-off that Arjun – who has 14 previous cases of attempt to murder, snatching, robbery and theft – was on his way to the New Delhi railway station in a car.
“The team intercepted the car and arrested Arjun and his wife Ruksar and also recovered a loaded pistol and seven live rounds along with 150 stolen mobile phones,” the DCP said.
He also said mastermind Arjun had engaged his friend Himanshu by promising “more profits in his business”. After their arrest, Arjun revealed that Himanshu was returning from Nepal in the Swatantrata Senani Express train, which cops boarded in Ghaziabad to catch him. Investigators seized 25 phones from Himanshu.
“His wife and Himanshu actively aided Arjun in the swindle, and they regularly went to Nepal to sell mobile phones. He further stated that 4-5 days ago, Himanshu took 90 stolen mobile phones to Nepal for sale. Today, he and his wife Ruksar were going to sell and deliver the mobile phones from Paharganj to New Delhi Railway Station in his car, and they were caught by the team near Ajmeri Gate,” the DCP said.
The arrest of Himanshu led investigators to another accused and key player in this cross-border smuggling — Jagarnath Kumar Yadav from Bihar’s Madhubani, who was another carrier of the stolen phones from Bihar to Nepal through Boriya.
The senior police officer said Jagarnath took the help of Roshan Yadav, who is yet to be arrested. Yadav received the consignment of mobile phones from Arjun and Himanshu in his village Boriya on the Nepal border. “Roshan Yadav is yet to be arrested as he has the advantage of not being under our jurisdiction. The investigation is on,” the DCP said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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