Thieves break into HC private secretary’s locked house, flee with ₹10 lakh

Lucknow: Burglars broke into the locked home of a high court private secretary in Chinhat while the family was away in Patna, allegedly making off with ₹1 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewellery valued at around ₹9 lakh, police said.The incident was reported after a neighbour alerted the homeowner, Gautam Kumar Sinha, that the main gate of his house in Madhav Greens, Lolai, was open. Police said the burglary is believed to have occurred between Aug 19 and Aug 21, when Sinha and his family were out of town.According to the FIR, Sinha, who works as a private secretary at the high court, left for Patna with his wife Neetu and their two children on Aug 19. He told police they travelled urgently because his nephew, Yash Verma, was unwell and receiving treatment at a hospital in Patna.After receiving the neighbour’s call on Aug 21, Sinha informed Chinhat police. A police team reached the house, inspected the premises and called in forensic experts, who collected evidence from the spot.Sinha returned to Lucknow on Saturday morning and found the house ransacked. In his complaint, he said the burglars first broke the lock of the main gate, then damaged a kitchen window fitted with a ventilator to enter the house. Once inside, they allegedly broke the lock of an almirah in one of the rooms and stole cash and jewellery before fleeing.Police said CCTV footage obtained from a neighbouring house has provided an initial lead. The video reportedly shows two suspected burglars entering the premises and later leaving with items that appear to be stolen property. Investigators are analysing the footage to identify the suspects and trace their movements before and after the theft.Sinha also informed police that a domestic worker, Phoolmati, and a milk supplier, Arjun, visited the home regularly. He further said the Ola driver who dropped the family at the railway station on Aug 19 had asked them questions before they left. Police said no involvement has been established and inquiries are continuing.