Tarun Kapoor would buy Mumbai-bound air tickets for Delhi-based accomplices; trio would rob victims after midnight, after targeting them outside tea stalls
Tarun Kapoor would buy Mumbai-bound air tickets for Delhi-based accomplices; trio would rob victims after midnight, after targeting them outside tea stalls
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This aspiring model from Delhi had another, rather criminal, source of livelihood: planning a systematised chain-snatching racket in the city, and flying in two skilled professionals from Delhi to execute his plans.
According to Prakash Wadkar, assistant commissioner of police (Andheri), Kapoor, a native of Delhi, had come to Mumbai a few years ago. He had been staying at a rented flat in Lokhandwala, and took on small-time modeling assignments.
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Kapoor would fly down professional chain snatchers from Delhi, Vishal Suri and Jasbeer Singh, at regular intervals of two months.
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After executing four to five successful chain-snatching operations, they would be sent back to the capital city.
After Kapoor had his accomplices flown in, the trio would scour the streets in his locality in a Maruti Alto, after midnight.
"Their victim on Sunday night was Sanjeev Kumar (24), an MBA student who had arrived in Mumbai 20 days ago in search of employment.
Suri and Singh flagged an auto rickshaw to follow their victim. After the attack, the rickshaw driver approached the police station and reported the crime.
When we reached the spot, we found that a bag had been left behind in the back seat of the rickshaw.
The bag contained an air ticket from Delhi to Mumbai. While tracing the ticket, we discovered that an agent in Lokhandwala had booked it.
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The travel agent divulged that it had been booked by Kapoor, and we had our man," said Wadkar.
The police then nabbed Kapoor from his flat. During interrogation, it was learnt that Kapoor's accomplices were residents of Delhi, who departed from Mumbai after conducting successful chain snatchings.
"Kapoor admitted to being the mastermind behind the chain snatchings, which he organised in order to make quick money.
He would pocket a major chunk of the cash that they raked in by selling the booty in Delhi," added Wadkar. The police are now tracing the whereabouts of Suri and Singh, with arrest warrants ready.
Modus Operandi
The trio locate their target, Sanjeev Kumar (24), at a tea stall outside Andheri (East) at around 1.30 am. Seeing Kumar flagging a rickshaw, Suri and Singh hail one themselves, and follow Kumar.
Near the Imperial Hotel in Andheri (East), the two intercept the rickshaw. Threatening Kumar with a chopper, they demand that he hand over his gold chain.
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When Kumar resists, the two attack him, snatching his chain in the process. The two jump into Kapoor's car, which has been following the rickshaws, and flee.
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