Army official’s car with defence ministry sticker stolen from high-security Moti Bagh

The theft in this high-security area, close to where the embassies are located, has exposed the loopholes in security.

A senior army official’s car with an official sticker, allowing entry inside the Defence Ministry, has been reported stolen. The car also had the identity card of his rifleman when it was stolen. Police have registered an FIR and alerted all police stations including Parliament Street where the Defence Ministry headquarters is located.

Police have registered an FIR and alerted all police stations including Parliament Street where the Defence Ministry headquarters is located. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The car, a Hyundai Accent belonging to Colonel SK Singh, posted with the army headquarters was stolen in the wee hours of Thursday. Singh had parked the car outside his South Moti Bagh house. On Thursday morning, he informed the police when he realised it was stolen. Moti Bagh in south Delhi is a high security area because it houses the residence of senior bureaucrats and defence personnel.

The theft in this high-security area, close to where the embassies are located, has exposed the loopholes in security.

Singh said he has submitted to the police the CCTV footage, which shows his car being stolen. “There were three men who came at around 1.50 am. Their faces were covered. It looked like they were wearing hoods. One of them was standing behind a tree,” he said.

Delhi registers the most number of vehicle thefts across all metros in India. In 2016, a total of 38,644 vehicle thefts were reported across the city, higher that 2015’s figure of 32,729.

Though heinous crimes such as murder, and robbery have declined, motor vehicle theft cases are increasing over the years.

Police have registered an FIR at the south campus police station.