Law enforcement authorities in Ghaziabad have cracked down on a sophisticated criminal syndicate involved in stealing steel rebars by manipulating weighbridges. The breakthrough came through a joint operation conducted by the SWAT team, crime branch, and Kavinagar police station. The culprits were using electronic chips embedded inside computerized dharamkaantas along with remote controls to falsify weight readings and siphon off massive quantities of steel. Authorities successfully intercepted the gang, recovering a staggering 41,780 kilograms, or approximately 41.78 tons, of stolen steel.
Action Taken on August 23 Based on Informant Tip
Acting on strict directives from top police leadership, including the additional deputy commissioner of police and assistant commissioner of police for crime, the specialized teams moved in on August 23, 2026. The operation was launched following a concrete tip-off indicating that suspects were tampering with weighbridge systems using electronic devices to commit large-scale thefts. Intercepting the suspects, police apprehended four individuals on the spot alongside truck bearing registration number NL01AH7968, which was packed with the stolen material.
Stolen Steel Unloaded at Naithali Barapat Warehouse
During sustained interrogation, the suspects revealed that the pilfered steel was being transported and offloaded at a warehouse located in Naithali Barapat. According to their statements, this facility was set up adjacent to the Udyog Kunj weighbridge at the behest of Rajkumar alias Raju, a resident of Bulandshahr; Lokesh Sharma alias Diwakar from Shastri Nagar in Ghaziabad; and Aftab from Dasna.
Secondary Vehicles Deployed After Initial Unloading
The investigation further unveiled that once the primary transport truck was unloaded at the warehouse, Rajkumar, Aftab, and Diwakar would dispatch alternate vehicles to the location. The stolen steel was then reloaded onto these secondary vehicles and hauled away to various hideouts managed by the key conspirators. Police noted that the syndicate generated substantial illegal profits from this enterprise, paying laborers working for them higher-than-average daily wages to secure their cooperation.
High-Tech Weight Manipulation Using Remotes and Chips
The modus operandi relied entirely on technology. The perpetrators installed electronic chips into computerized weighbridges and used remote controls to alter weight measurements covertly during the weighing process. Investigations confirmed that the gang had been pulling off these heists over an extended period. Notably, key members Aftab and Raju have prior criminal records and have previously served time in jail for similar steel theft offenses.
Details of Arrested Suspects and Recoveries
Police formally arrested four individuals during the operation. They have been identified as Musharraf, son of Anwar, aged 42, from Hapur; Osama, son of Rafakat, aged 25, from Meerut; Imran, son of Aijaz Ali, aged 27, from Bulandshahr; and Prashant, son of Shailendra Kumar, aged 19, from Auraiya. Along with the suspects, officers seized the transport truck and the entire stock of 41,780 kilograms of stolen steel.
Manhunt Underway for Remaining Accomplices
Authorities stated that the arrested individuals provided the names of several other accomplices involved in the criminal ring during questioning. Police are currently pursuing leads to locate and arrest these remaining suspects while thoroughly verifying the criminal backgrounds of all involved parties.
