Delhi Police have dismantled a gang of wedding thieves—dubbed the ‘Band, Baaja, Baraat’ gang—who gatecrashed elite weddings in the capital and its suburbs to steal cash and jewellery. Four members, including a juvenile, have been apprehended, officials confirmed on Thursday.
With these arrests, police have solved three wedding theft cases reported in Shastri Park, Swaroop Nagar, and GTB Enclave.
Operating out of Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh, the gang specialised in infiltrating lavish weddings, blending seamlessly with guests by donning festive attire. “They would attend weddings as uninvited guests, enjoy the celebrations, have dinner, and patiently wait for the right moment to strike,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Apoorva Gupta.
Their modus operandi involved stealing bags containing gifts, jewellery, and cash meant for the bride and groom before slipping away unnoticed.
In response to a string of wedding thefts across Delhi-NCR, police launched an extensive investigation. CCTV footage from multiple venues was scrutinised, and informants were placed at banquet halls and farmhouses, eventually leading to the identification of the culprits.
“The gang’s strategy heavily relied on minors. Investigations revealed that their leader would lure parents in rural Madhya Pradesh with promises of Rs 10 to 12 lakh per year in exchange for their children’s involvement in the crimes,” Gupta revealed.
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Children, mostly between the ages of 9 and 15, were then brought to Delhi, trained in pickpocketing and stealth tactics, and coached to blend in with wedding guests. They were also instructed on how to remain calm if caught.
A crucial tip-off led police to the gang’s movements near Shastri Park metro depot, where a raid was conducted. Three accused—Ajju (24), Kuljeet (22), and Kalu Chhayal (25), all from Madhya Pradesh—were arrested, while a juvenile was taken into custody.
Authorities recovered Rs 2.14 lakh in cash, a mobile phone, and several pieces of silver jewellery from the gang. Further investigations are underway.
(With inputs from PTI)
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