Domestic help, wife held for theft at trader’s house in Ludhiana

The accused has been identified as Nanku alias Pappu Chaudhary, a resident of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh

A domestic help and his wife, employed at the residence of an iron trader in Khanna, have been arrested for allegedly stealing jewellery worth around ₹80 lakh. Police said the case came to light after key information was disclosed by the accused’s own children.

Police said the accused had a criminal history and was previously booked in a theft case in Mandi Gobindgarh in 2019. (HT File)

The accused has been identified as Nanku alias Pappu Chaudhary, a resident of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. He had been working at the residence of trader Praveen Kanwar since the Covid period, initially hired to care for a 65-year-old family member, Suvela Kanwar, due to her ill health.

According to the complaint, the accused was living in the house with his wife Sapna and children, and gradually gained the family’s trust. During this time, he became familiar with the layout of the house, including cupboards and storage spaces.

The theft came to light when the family’s daughter, who had returned from Dubai for a wedding, found that jewellery worth over ₹80 lakh was missing from a cupboard. When confronted, the accused denied any involvement.

Suspecting foul play, the family conducted inquiries, during which it was found that the accused was constructing a house in Ayodhya and had recently purchased high-end mobile phones and branded clothes, raising suspicion over his sudden financial rise.

Police said the case took a turn when information surfaced through the accused’s children, following which the family alerted the police. An FIR was registered on March 31 after investigation.

Deputy superintendent of police Karamjit Singh Grewal said the accused and his wife have been arrested. During police remand, about 50 grams of jewellery were recovered. Efforts are on to trace the remaining stolen items and identify possible buyers.

Police also said the accused had a criminal history and was previously booked in a theft case in Mandi Gobindgarh in 2019. After serving jail time, he had returned to Khanna and resumed domestic work at the same household.