New Delhi: A 72-year-old woman, with one of the most recognisable last names in the country, has been arrested for stealing the belongings of a foreigner in Paharganj market. When most people her age retire to a quiet domestic life, Savita Gandhi has been up and about in Delhi’s crowded marketplaces, targeting shoppers.
The septuagenarian, who also goes by the alias Saroj, has at least 14 cases against her name since 2016. After checking 100 CCTV cameras, the trail led the cops to Savita in Uttam Nagar, where she was arrested on Oct 24. DCP (central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the case came to light on Oct 21 when the foreigner lodged an online complaint about the theft of her bag from a shop. The bag contained a passport, visa documents, $2,600, Rs 2.5 lakh in Indian currency, three credit cards and a Samsung phone. She was released from Tihar Jail 20 days ago, police said. Police have found Rs 1,85,500 in Indian currency and the $2,600 reportedly stolen from the foreigner. Police records show 14 previous criminal involvements attributed to Gandhi, with cases dating back to 2016 and others registered this year. The latest case has been registered under section 305 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Paharganj police station.
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During interrogation, police said, the elderly woman admitted to her alleged involvement in the theft. The investigators said Savita relied on her appearance as an elderly woman to avoid attracting suspicion when she targeted shoppers. The clothes allegedly worn by her at the time of the offence have also been found, police said. “In 2016, eleven cases were there, and this year she committed three crimes,” police said.
In the latest case, a bag belonging to a foreigner allegedly vanished when she was shopping in Paharganj. A team from Paharganj police station pursued the trail through CCTV footage, local intelligence and information gathered from officers who had dealt with Savita in previous cases. The investigators also worked to establish her current whereabouts, drawing on leads they got during the probe. Investigators described her as a habitual offender. She lived with her family and monetary gain seemed to be her only motive, police added. Her arrest has provided a significant breakthrough, but the case is far from closed. However, the foreigner’s passport, visa documents and phone are yet to be found. Police are looking for those. Download the TOI App.