Delhi Police arrested a 72-year-old woman for allegedly stealing a foreign national's bag in Paharganj. The case highlights her suspected repeat offending and alleged use of age to evade suspicion.
Police recovered Rs 1.85 lakh and USD 2,600 from the accused, identified as Savita Gandhi, also known as Saroj Gandhi. (Representative photo)
New Delhi,Oct 26, 2026 16:42 IST
A 72-year-old woman allegedly involved in 14 previous criminal cases has been arrested on charges of stealing a foreign national's bag from a shop in Delhi's Paharganj area, PTI reported, citing a police official.
Police recovered Rs 1.85 lakh and USD 2,600 from the accused, identified as Savita Gandhi, also known as Saroj Gandhi. She was arrested from Uttam Nagar on October 24 after investigators examined footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras.
Police said Gandhi was a habitual offender and had recently been released from Tihar Jail.
The foreign national filed an online complaint on October 21, alleging that her bag was stolen while she was shopping in Paharganj. The bag contained her passport, visa documents, USD 2,600, Rs 2.5 lakh, three credit cards and a mobile phone, police told PTI.
A case was registered under the relevant provision of the BNS at Paharganj police station.
During the investigation, police examined footage from CCTV cameras installed in and around the area and used local sources to identify the suspect. The team also contacted officers who had investigated previous cases involving Gandhi to obtain information about her whereabouts.
Police subsequently recovered the Indian and US currency from her possession. The clothes she allegedly wore at the time of the theft were also recovered.
During questioning, Gandhi allegedly admitted her involvement in the theft, police said. She allegedly used her appearance as a senior citizen to avoid suspicion while committing thefts.
Police are verifying details related to opening a formal record of her criminal history and a proposal to bar her from the area, PTI reported.
Efforts are continuing to recover the remaining stolen items, including the mobile phone, passport and visa documents. Further investigation is underway.
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With PTI inputs