Nainital Police Crack Two House‑Theft Cases in Mukhani; Interstate Professional Thief Arrested, Ornaments and Cash Worth Over ₹9 Lakh Recovered,,

Nainital Police
Two House‑Theft Complaints in Mukhani
Under the directive of Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr. Manjunath T. C., Nainital Police have successfully cracked two separate house‑theft cases registered in the Mukhani area of Nainital district. The accused, identified as an interstate professional thief, was arrested with stolen gold and silver ornaments, along with cash, valued at more than ₹9 lakh.
In the first case (FIR No. 27/26), the complainant Lalit Singh, resident of Satyanand Colony, Galī No. 10, Bithoriya No. 1, Mukhani, Haldwani, reported that between 10 January 2026 and 15 January 2026 an unknown person broke into his house and stole about ₹50,000 in cash and silver jewellery. In the second case (FIR No. 35/26), complainant Ghanshyam Chandra, resident of Hari Shiv Vihar, Himmattpur, Mallā, Mukhani, alleged that between 16 November 2025 and 19 November 2025 his house lock was broken and gold and silver ornaments, along with some cash, were stolen.
SSP’s Direction and Police Team Formation
Noticing the seriousness of the crimes, SSP Nainital Dr. Manjunath T. C. immediately directed the formation of a special police team to ensure quick disclosure of both cases. The team was constituted under the supervision of SP City Shri Manoj Kumar Katyal, Area Officer Haldwani Shri Amit Kumar, and led by Mukhani Police Station In‑charge Shri Sushil Joshi and SOG in‑charge Shri Rajesh Joshi.
The police team collected and scrutinised CCTV footage from the vicinity of both crime sites, conducted field enquiries, and ran surveillance operations. The review of camera footage revealed that the same suspect was involved in both thefts, which helped the team to narrow down the search and focus on the particular individual.
Arrest of the Interstate Thief and Recoveries
On 03 April 2026, the police team arrested the accused Munshi Ram alias Sonu, son of Deepchand, aged 41 years, resident of Kasba Behat, Mohalla Mahajanān, Thanā and Kotwāli Behat, District Sāhāranpur, Uttar Pradesh, near Gusaipur Chaurāhā in Haldwani. He was apprehended in possession of stolen ornaments and cash.
From the recovered items linked with FIR No. 27/26, police seized white‑metal chain sets, neck chains, rings, jhumkas, and cash amounting to ₹22,460. In the second case (FIR No. 35/26), recovered items included a gold mangalsutra, gold bangles, a gold maang‑tika (maang‑tīkā), a gold ring, and a pair of gold earrings. The total estimated market value of the recovered ornaments and cash, as per police, is over ₹9 lakh.
Criminal History of the Accused
The accused has a long criminal record, with multiple FIRs already registered against him in Uttarakhand and Haryana for theft and related offences. These include:
FIR No. 05/24, 374/24, 215/24 under Sections 380/457 IPC at Clement Town, Patelnagar, and Nainital Kotwāli.
FIR No. 42/23 and 41/23 under Sections 380/457/336/511 and 380/457/411 IPC at Jagadhari Sadar, Yamunanagar, Haryana.
Police have also indicated that the accused carried out thefts and other criminal acts in other states as well, and further verification of his interstate criminal history is underway.
Police Team and Commendation by SSP
The disclosure was achieved by a team comprising:
SHO Mukhani Sushil Joshi
Sub Inspector Veerendra Chand
Sub Inspector Rajendra Singh
Head Constable Israar Nabi (CCTV)
Head Constable Kundan Kathayat (SOG)
Constables Dhīrāj Sugda, Balwanta Singh, Ravindra Khāti, Arvind Bisht (surveillance), and Anil Giri (surveillance)
Commending the swift and coordinated action, SSP Nainital Dr. Manjunath T. C. awarded a cash incentive of ₹1,500 to the police team as a morale booster and appreciation for their dedicated efforts.
Significance of the Case
The successful resolution of these two house‑theft cases underscores Nainital Police’s zero‑tolerance approach towards property crimes and the effective use of CCTV surveillance, intelligence‑based operations, and interstate coordination. The SSP has reiterated that strong punitive action will be taken against habitual and interstate thieves to ensure the safety of residents and tourists in the district.