New Delhi, July 27: Delhi Police on Monday arrested an active snatcher within hours of a mobile phone snatching incident in the Madhu Vihar area. With the arrest of accused, police claimed to have cracked four criminal cases, recovering a snatched mobile phone, a scooty used in the commission of the offence, and two additional stolen mobile phones linked to separate theft cases.

The accused has been identified as Upender alias Piyush (22), a resident of West Vinod Nagar, Delhi. Police said swift action based on credible secret information led to his arrest, while efforts are continuing to trace and apprehend his absconding associate.

According to Delhi Police, the incident came to light on July 25 after a PCR call regarding the snatching of a mobile phone was received at Police Station Madhu Vihar. The inquiry was assigned to Sub-Inspector Mahipal Singh.

During the investigation, complainant Ayush Das informed the police that at around 12 noon, while travelling towards Ghazipur, he was passing the DCP Cut near Utsav Ground in IP Extension when two unidentified men riding a blue scooty approached him. The pillion rider allegedly snatched his blue mobile phone before the duo fled towards the East District DCP Office.

Based on the complainant’s statement, FIR No. 293/2026 was registered at Police Station Madhu Vihar under Sections 304(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

The police team began an intensive search operation, analysed available leads and developed credible intelligence regarding the accused’s movements. Acting on the secret information, the police laid a trap near Utsav Ground, IP Extension, at around 9.20 p.m. on the same day and successfully apprehended Upender.

During his arrest, police recovered the snatched mobile phone belonging to the complainant. The blue scooty allegedly used in the crime was also seized. Verification through the vehicle’s chassis number revealed that it had been reported stolen in e-FIR No. 17144/2026 registered at Police Station Pandav Nagar.

A further search of the scooter led to the recovery of two additional stolen mobile phones — a handset and another phone. Police said these devices were linked to separate e-FIRs, numbered 80115470/2025 and 80011811/2026, registered at Police Station PIA.

With these recoveries, Delhi Police said it had successfully solved four criminal cases, including the present mobile phone snatching case.

During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he had committed the snatching along with an associate. Acting on his disclosure, police conducted a raid at the co-accused’s residence. However, he was found absconding. Police said continuous efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.

The accused has been formally arrested, and all recovered property has been seized in accordance with legal procedures. He is being produced before the competent court, while further investigation is underway.

During questioning, the accused also disclosed that he had become addicted to drugs and had started committing property-related offences to finance his addiction.

New Delhi, July 26: The Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s East District on Sunday arrested an interstate bootlegger and seized 1,600 quarter bottles of illicit liquor being smuggled from Haryana to Delhi. The Police also impounded a car used to transport the contraband.

According to Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Anand alias Kallu, 31, a resident of Karkardooma Village. The operation led to the recovery of 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor, all bearing the label “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

Police said the seizure is part of its ongoing drive to curb the illegal transportation and sale of liquor in the national capital and dismantle interstate smuggling networks. A case has been registered under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Laxmi Nagar Police Station.

The team, on July 23, received specific intelligence that a large consignment of illicit liquor was being transported from Sonipat, Haryana, to Delhi in a car. Acting swiftly on the input, the police laid a trap near Noida Link Road, Shakarpur Bus Stand.

At around 10.30 p.m., the suspected vehicle was spotted approaching the location. When police signalled the driver to stop, he allegedly attempted to flee by speeding away. However, the team intercepted the vehicle after a brief chase and apprehended the driver.

During the search, officers recovered 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor from the rear seat and boot of the car. The seized consignment included 23 cartons of Race 7 Metro Liquor (180 ml) and nine cartons of Falcon’s Santra Desi Sharab (180 ml), all marked “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

The car used for transporting the liquor was also seized.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been transporting illicit liquor from Haryana for illegal distribution in Delhi to earn quick money.

Police said Anand has a previous criminal record and was earlier booked in FIR No. 332/2013 under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Anand Vihar Police Station.

Investigators are now working to identify the source of the liquor, its intended recipients and other members of the interstate smuggling network. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Lucknow, July 26: A hoax bomb threat call triggered a major security operation at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow on Friday night, prompting multiple security agencies to conduct an extensive search of the airport premises before confirming that the alert was false, officials said on Sunday.

Police have since traced the mobile number used to make the call to Kanpur and booked 30-year-old Shyam Sundar, a resident of the Bidhuna area in Kanpur’s Jaisinghpur, for questioning.

According to airport sources, a bomb threat was reported through a call made to Dial 112 at around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, setting off an immediate response from security and emergency agencies.

Teams from the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the fire brigade rushed to the airport and launched a comprehensive search operation.

Following the alert, the entire airport complex, including the cargo terminal and all entry gates, was thoroughly inspected.

Security personnel also carried out detailed checks of passengers and their baggage between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. as part of the precautionary measures.

Despite the intensive hour-long search, no suspicious object or explosive material was found anywhere on the premises.

Officials said that when security agencies attempted to contact the person who had made the bomb threat, the mobile phone was found switched off.

After completing the search and verification process, authorities concluded that the threat call was a hoax, bringing relief to airport officials and security personnel.

Taking the matter seriously, police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) at around 11 a.m. on Sunday based on the mobile number provided by Sub-Inspector Nishu Chaudhary of Sarojini Nagar police station.

The number was subsequently tracked through surveillance, which revealed its location in the Kanpur district.

Acting on the surveillance inputs, a police team detained Shyam Sundar.

The accused is currently being questioned by the police to ascertain the motive behind making the false bomb threat call and to determine the circumstances under which the fraudulent alert was issued.