New Delhi, September 30: Lokesh Sriwas, who was arrested in Chhattisgarh in connection with the sensational heist in Delhi wherein jewellery worth over Rs 20 crore was burgled, had bought a disc cutter machine and hammer, along with a screwdriver and pliers. Sriwas (31), a.k.a Golu, was apprehended in Bhilai for his alleged involvement in the theft of gold and diamond jewellery from Umrao Singh Jewellers. According to the police, preliminary investigations suggested that he carried out the entire operation single-handedly, spanning an 18-hour period.

His entry into the store occurred at approximately 10.45 p.m. on September 24, and he exited around 5 p.m. the following day. The theft went unnoticed until Tuesday morning as the market area was closed on Monday. Additionally, CCTV footage from inside the shop, captured before it was disconnected, reveals the presence of a masked individual on the ground floor. Delhi Jewellery Shop Heist: Two Held in Chhattisgarh, 18.5 kg Ornaments Recovered in Rs 20 Crore Heist Case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Deo said that before committing the crime, Lokesh had bought a disc cutter machine and a hammer. "He also brought screwdriver and pliers," said the DCP, adding that before committing the crime he did a recce on September 9, 17 and 21.

Meanwhile, Lokesh a.k.a. Lokeshwar Sriwas, a resident of Kailash Nagar near Vivekanand School Kabirdham in Chhattisgarh, who was nabbed on Friday, was produced before the CJM court in Bilaspur court, Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Jitendra, the investigating officer from Hazrat Nizamuddin police station in Delhi, also filed an application to secure custody of the recovered stolen property and requested Transit Remand. As per police, Lokesh was staying in Rajdhani guest house in Chandni Chowk from September 21 to the day of crime. Delhi Jewellery Shop Heist Video: Thieves Drill Hole Into Store, Run Away With Ornaments Worth Rs 25 Crore From Bhogal.

On September 25, at around 9 p.m, he took a bus from Kashmere Gate to Sagar (MP). This request was presented before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Manish Kumar Dubey. Concurrently, the Civil Lines police station in Bilaspur also submitted an application for a five-day police custody remand.

Following a thorough presentation of arguments from both parties, the CJM Court granted a three-day police custody remand for the accused, Lokesh, to the Bilaspur Police. Additionally, the court requested a response from the Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines police station, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, regarding the transfer of custody for the recovered stolen property to the Delhi Police.

Lokesh gained notoriety for his ingenuity in surreptitiously gaining access to targeted shops, employing a portable drill as his tool of choice. His criminal activities date back to 2006 when he embarked on a solo journey, primarily targeting small jewellery stores in his hometown of Kabirdham in Chhattisgarh.

Over time, he expanded his operations to include states such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and now, Delhi. By 2010, due to his involvement in approximately six burglary cases within his home district, he was declared an externed criminal and prohibited from entering the boundaries of his native region.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2023 10:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).