A man was apprehended by the police at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi for a string of thefts, involving the pilferage of jewelry and cash worth crores from fellow passengers during over 200 flights. Identified as Rajesh Kapoor, 40, the suspect’s modus operandi included assuming his deceased brother’s identity, Rishi Kapoor, to evade detection while traveling and targeting unsuspecting elderly women passengers carrying handbags, particularly during boarding.
Kapoor’s arrest followed a series of reported thefts on Air India flights, with victims including passengers traveling to the US who had their jewelry, valued at Rs 7 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, respectively, stolen during their journeys. The police investigation, aided by CCTV footage analysis from airports in Hyderabad, Delhi, and Amritsar, implicated Kapoor in these incidents. His presence on the flights aroused suspicion, and further scrutiny revealed his use of a fake phone number registered under someone else’s name. However, technical analysis led to the discovery of his original phone number, indicating his residence in Paharganj.
Following Kapoor’s arrest, a significant amount of stolen property, including gold and silver jewelry, was recovered from his possession. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Sharad Jain, 46, from Karol Bagh, who was found to be receiving stolen jewelry items from Kapoor.
Kapoor’s extensive travel history, with over 200 flights in the past year alone, has raised concerns about his potential involvement in similar cases across various airports in India. Usha Rangnani, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI), stated, “Rajesh Kapoor has also accepted stealing valuables from the bags of unsuspecting female passengers in several airlines headed to and from various airports of India like Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Bombay, and Amritsar.”
The police have informed the concerned airports about Kapoor’s activities and are analyzing his travel history over the past year to uncover any further involvement in similar cases. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.