A Delhi-based domestic help wanted to create “high-quality” video content and expand her digital footprint on YouTube and Instagram after leaving her “abusive” husband behind in Rajasthan. To fulfil her dream, she was arrested after stealing gold and silver jewellery from her employer’s house in Dwarka to buy an expensive camera, police said on Saturday.
On July 15, Prashant Rana, a resident of Sector 12 in Dwarka, filed a police complaint after gold bangles, a silver chain and a silver ankle ornament went missing from his house the previous day. He further said that the only outsider who had visited his house on the day of the thefts was his housekeeper, adding that she had only been hired four days ago.
Police said the suspect’s address was traced through her mobile phone number but she was not there. Her mobile phone was switched off but police found CCTV footage from the society, officials added. Officials noted that on the day of the theft, the suspect boarded an e-rickshaw from the society gate after leaving Rana’s house. Officials said the suspect got off the rickshaw in Sector 6 in Dwarka and then boarded another rickshaw to go to Rajapuri Chowk.
The rickshaw driver was tracked down as there were no CCTV cameras at the spot where she was dropped off. “The driver then took police to the house where he had dropped the suspect off. Police found her at the house packing her bags to leave Delhi,” said Ankit Singh, superintendent of police, Dwarka, Delhi.
According to police, the accused, who initially denied the allegations, eventually became emotional and the Dwaraka district anti-theft squad arrested her.
During questioning, it emerged that the accused, Neetu, 30, hails from Belod village in Rajasthan and lived in the same village as her husband. However, she told police that she was subjected to violence by her husband, who was allegedly a drug addict.
A few years ago, she left her husband in search of a better life and came to Delhi. Police said she started working as a domestic help and started a YouTube and Instagram account. After creating a few videos and reels, someone told her to buy a professional DSLR camera to create quality video content.
When she realised it would cost lakhs of rupees to buy the camera, she asked her family for a loan, but to no avail, police said.
She said that a few days ago, while working at the plaintiff’s house, she noticed gold and silver jewellery in the house.
On July 14, she allegedly stole jewellery and sold it to fund her dream job.
The jewellery has been recovered and an FIR under Bharatiya Janata Party (BNS) section 305 (theft) has been registered at Dwarka North police station, police said.
© Indian Express Ltd.
First uploaded on: July 21, 2024 05:33 IST