58-year-old vagabond held for breaking into AAP office

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Sunday said that they have arrested a 58-year-old Afghanistan national who reportedly broke into the Aam Aadmi Party's office in central Delhi's Rouse Avenue and tried to steal canopies containing the party's logo.

Police said they have also arrested three associates of the prime accused.

According to police, the incident took place on Friday night when a vagabond, identified as Mohammad Qazim, was caught on CCTV footage trying to steal canopies from the office.

An investigating officer said that Qazim's face was not visible in the footage, but his identity was ascertained based on his physical appearance in the footage.

After the incident was reported at IP Estate police station, a team led by SHO Ravinder Malik began its investigation.

It was Constable Amit Sharma who identified the accused, after he saw the CCTV footage. Immediately, the accused was nabbed.

Police claimed that Qazim's associates used to buy the items that he would steal. They were identified as Fayum, Saiffudin and Sultan.

"Qazim had entered the AAP office alone and stolen the canopies himself," said a police official.

Police sources further said that the accused had come from Afghanistan to India when he was 14 years old, during which time he started living in the streets.

Over time, he became addicted to drugs and started drinking heavily.

"He used to work as a labourer, but due to alcohol addiction, he started stealing things. He has a criminal record and was accused of burglary," said the police official.

After stealing various sorts of item, the accused used to sell the, to his associates in order to fuel his addiction.

"We are investigating the case from all possible angles," the police official added.

Recently, a blue Wagon R car belonging to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was stolen, from right outside the Delhi Secretariat.

The blurred image of a man getting into the car was caught on security cameras installed outside the premises and driving it away. It was later found abandoned in Ghaziabad area.