Govt vehicle used in theft; MCF driver held, car seized
The accused confessed during interrogation that he stole several bundles of electric wires from the construction site in Sector 44 and handed them over to an associate
The district police on Tuesday arrested a driver employed with the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) for allegedly using a government-leased vehicle in a theft case reported in Gurugram’s Sector 44 earlier this month. The vehicle—assigned to the Additional Commissioner of MCF—was seized from the civic body’s headquarters in Faridabad.
The vehicle—assigned to the Additional Commissioner of MCF—was seized from the civic body’s headquarters in Faridabad (File photo)
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Police said the accused, Niranjan Singh, 35, stole multiple bundles of electric wire from a hospital construction site in Sector 44 and fled in a car that investigators later confirmed was registered to his wife but leased to MCF. The theft was reported on July 8, and a case was registered at Sushant Lok police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“The accused confessed during interrogation that he stole several bundles of electric wires from the construction site in Sector 44 and handed them over to an associate,” said Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson for the Gurugram Police. “We have seized the vehicle used in the crime and are further questioning the accused to identify and arrest others involved.”
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According to officials, Singh is a resident of Salempur Dhankar village in Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, and was hired as a driver under the Haryana Skill Employment Corporation (HSEC) in November 2024. He had been posted as the driver to a senior MCF officer at the time of the incident.
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According to officials, Singh is a resident of Salempur Dhankar village in Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, and was hired as a driver under the Haryana Skill Employment Corporation (HSEC) in November 2024. He had been posted as the driver to a senior MCF officer at the time of the incident.
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Investigators said Singh had leased his Maruti Ciaz—registered in his wife’s name—to the civic body, which then assigned it for official use. The same car was used in the theft.
Authorities in Faridabad are expected to launch an internal inquiry into how an official car came to be misused for criminal activity without detection. Police said they are also probing whether the accused was involved in similar thefts and whether any other government property was misused.
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MCF, meanwhile, did not respond to HT’s queries on the case.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
