Nagpur: Unit 4 of the Crime Branch has arrested a Delhi-based man for allegedly stealing an iPhone from the Inspire Apple Store in Civil Lines, Nagpur, as well as a laptop from VR Mall. The incident took place on October 28, 2024, between 8:00 and 8:10 p.m. at Nexon Point in Nagpur, when a thief stole an iPhone 16 Pro Max worth ₹1,40,000 that was left charging in the store by customer Rohit Dilip Gupte, 37, a resident of Besa, Nagpur.

Following a complaint by Gupte, the Sadar Police registered a case under Section 380(2) of the Indian Penal Code. During a parallel investigation, Unit 4 of the Crime Branch identified the suspect as 35-year-old Hussain Maqsood Ali from Gautam Vihar, North East Delhi, based on reliable leads and technical surveillance.

After taking Ali into custody in Delhi, he confessed to the theft at the Inspire Store and also admitted to stealing an Asus laptop from the Reliance Digital store in VR Mall under the jurisdiction of Imamwada Police Station. Police recovered the stolen iPhone and an additional mobile phone from Ali, valued at approximately ₹1,50,000.

The operation was executed under the guidance of senior Nagpur police officials, including Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Joint Commissioner Nisar Tamboli, and Additional Commissioner Sanjay Patil. The Crime Branch team, led by Inspector Kamalakar Gaddime and Sub-Inspector Avinash Jaybhaye, has handed over Ali and the recovered items to the Sadar Police for further action.