Two juveniles, 1 woman held for Rs 2 crore boutique heist in south Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI): Two juveniles were apprehended and a woman arrested for allegedly robbing Rs 2 crore worth of bridal outfits and other items from a boutique in south Delhi's Fatehpur Beri, police said on Tuesday.
One of the juveniles was a former sales assistant at the boutique, he said.
According to Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police (South) Achin Garg, the incident occurred at around 11.15 pm on March 1.
"On Saturday night, a woman, accompanied by two people, approached the security guard of the boutique operating inside a farmhouse. The woman, posing as a relative of the owner, requested entry to use the washroom," Garg said.
The woman distracted the guard, while her accomplices overpowered and tied him up. The three then decamped with high-end bridal outfits, electronic equipment, paintings and other valuables, he said.
The security guard, after managing to free himself, alerted the police. A case was registered and the police launched an investigation.
"The robbers had stolen the boutique's CCTV DVR to erase evidence. But police traced the tempo van used in the crime," the officer said.
He said the accused had also covered the number plate with a black tape while on the move. However, one of the CCTV footage analysed showed the tape partially removed, revealing the letters 'RAJ', which proved to be a key breakthrough.
As the vehicle was last traced to Manglapuri, the police combed the area. Eventually, it was found parked in a street.
Further investigation led to the identification of the tempo owner, who revealed that his classmate, a juvenile, had borrowed the vehicle.
Upon questioning, the juvenile confessed to the crime and disclosed the involvement of the other two, the officer said.
According to police, the juveniles, both residents of the Sultanpur, planned and executed the robbery. One of them was familiar with its layout and the value of the outfits. The woman was a social media acquaintance of his.
Police recovered all the stolen items from a rented room in Aya Nagar.
The woman was arrested from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi: Police solved a ₹2 crore theft case where 50 bridal outfits and other valuables were stolen from a boutique. The crime was committed by a woman and two accomplices who tied up the security guard and stole the items
— IANS (@ians_india) March 4, 2025
South District Additional DCP Achin Garg says,… pic.twitter.com/HdOKpAUFof
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IUML appoints first women national office-bearers, marks milestone with Dalit leader from Wayanad
Wayanad, Kerala – In a significant move aimed at addressing long-standing criticism over lack of representation, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) appointed two women – Jayanthi Rajan from Kerala and Fathima Muzaffar from Tamil Nadu – as national office-bearers. This is the first time in IUML’s history that women have been appointed to national-level leadership positions.
The announcement was made during the party’s National General Council meeting held on Thursday, signalling a major shift in IUML's approach towards inclusivity, especially concerning gender, caste, and religious diversity.
46-year-old Jayanthi Rajan, a Dalit leader from Irulam in Wayanad, Kerala, has been a long-time associate of the party. Her political journey with IUML began in 2008 through her involvement with the Women’s League. She formally became a member of the party in 2010 and has since held several key posts, including National General Secretary of the Women’s League and State President of the Dalit League (Women).
Her entry into electoral politics was marked by a victory in 2010 from the Puthadi Panchayat, a women-reserved seat. She also served as the Standing Committee Chairperson of the Panamaram Block Panchayat.
Coming from a Congress-leaning family, Jayanthi was actively involved with Shreyas, a social service organisation in Sultan Bathery. It was through this platform that she first began collaborating with the Muslim League’s social initiatives.
“This came as a totally unexpected choice,” Jayanthi said while speaking to Onmanorama on her return to Wayanad. She also expressed gratitude to the party for their support. “People may call the League a communal party, but that’s absolutely wrong. This is not a party based solely on religion. They have always treated me like a dear sister,” she added.
Jayanthi credits her father-in-law, Irulath Ramankutty, a former president of the Bathery Block Panchayat, for motivating her to join the League. Her husband Rajan and their children are also active IUML members. Her son is a software engineer while her daughter is pursuing a BDS degree.
Despite not being able to continue her studies after Class XII, Jayanthi enrolled for a BA in Sociology from IGNOU four years ago. Although family responsibilities delayed her academic journey, she remains committed to completing the course.
IUML’s decision to appoint women at the national level comes amid increasing pressure over its handling of gender-related issues. The party had faced backlash in 2021 for disbanding the Haritha State Committee after its leaders raised complaints about misogynistic remarks by male counterparts in the Muslim Students Federation (MSF). While the committee was later reconstituted, the incident sparked debate over the party’s approach to women’s participation.
Disciplinary action against former Haritha members was withdrawn in 2024, and they were offered key positions in the Muslim Youth League – a development seen as an attempt to heal internal divisions.
Speaking about the Haritha controversy, Jayanthi remained cautious but optimistic. “It was the wish of the youth. Even if ideological differences exist, we will bring everyone under the party’s umbrella. They are the future of the Women’s League,” she said.
IUML has historically fielded very few women candidates. Noorbina Rasheed’s candidacy in the 2021 Kozhikode Assembly election came after a 25-year gap since Qamarunnisa Anwar contested in 1996.
Jayanthi sees her appointment not just as personal recognition but as part of a broader shift within the IUML. “This is a party decision. We will stand by the party’s decisions and move forward together,” she said.
