In a bizarre turn of events, a 32-year-old woman has been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly stealing gold jewellery worth lakhs from a well-known social media influencer. The woman was apprehended from Manali, Himachal Pradesh, along with her husband, and police recovered 100 grams of gold ornaments from her residence in Haryana, according to an officer on Thursday.
The Crime Unfolds: Influencer Robbed by a ‘Fan’
The case came to light when the influencer approached the police with an unusual complaint. He alleged that a woman, posing as a fan on social media, had robbed him during a photoshoot.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan, the incident occurred on September 18 when the woman insisted on meeting the influencer, requesting to take photos and videos with his expensive gold jewellery. The influencer, eager to oblige his fan, invited her to his office in Chattarpur, South Delhi.
During the meeting, the woman asked him to wear his gold jewellery and pose for pictures. While the influencer complied, the woman saw an opportunity when he got busy on a phone call. She quickly fled the scene, taking with her 100 grams of the influencer’s gold ornaments.
CCTV Leads to Arrest in Manali
The police launched an investigation immediately after the influencer reported the theft. Officers reviewed CCTV footage and managed to trace the woman’s location to Manali, Himachal Pradesh. A team was dispatched to apprehend the suspect and her husband. Upon searching her residence in Jhajjar, Haryana, the police recovered the stolen gold ornaments.
The woman is currently in police custody, and further investigation into the matter is underway, according to the DCP.
Other Cases of Crimes Involving Social Media Aspirants
In a separate but somewhat related incident, a 26-year-old man with aspirations of becoming a social media influencer was arrested for committing a string of burglaries in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area between June 5 and August 26. Identified as Vivek Kumar Gupta, he was arrested along with his associate, Vikhyat Sharma, 22, after committing at least six burglaries.
Police recovered 12 expensive imported watches, seven bottles of perfume, and three pairs of sunglasses—all items that were purchased with the proceeds from the burglaries. Investigators painstakingly analyzed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, which ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
The Rise of Social Media Crime
The two cases highlight the darker side of the rapidly growing world of social media influencers, where the desire for fame and wealth can sometimes result in criminal activity. Both incidents serve as a reminder that not everything is as glamorous as it seems in the digital realm.