FOSSIL THIEF NABBED IITF POLICE TEAM RECOVERED 50-MILLION-YEAR-OLD ARTIFACT

Mahesh Dhoundiyal - Delhi

Police Station IITF has cracked the high-profile theft of a 50-million- year-old Gastropod Fossil from the India International Trade Fair-2024. The team arrested an accused and recovered the stolen artifact.

INCIDENT AND TEAM:

On 21.11.2024, the staff of Geological Survey of India reported the theft of a 50-million-year-old Gastropod Fossil from their stall in the Ministry of Mines pavilion located in Hall No. 4. Accordingly, a case vide E-FIR No. 80132447/2024, under section 303(2) BNS, was registered at PS IITF, New Delhi and investigation was taken up.

A team led by Inspr. Rajesh Kumar, SHO/PS IITF and comprising of SI Vipin Tyagi, SI Gulab, HC Jai Parkash, HC Ajay, Ct. Dinesh & Ct. Surya was constituted to work out the case. The team functioned under the close supervision of Sh. Ratan Lal, ACP/PS IITF.

INVESTIGATION AND ARREST:

During the course of investigation, the team obtained and analysed footages from over 100 CCTVs at the place of incident and nearby stalls/pavilions/halls. Using technical analysis, they identified the accused and tracked him down to Noida.

Based on the specific information, the team conducted a raid in Sector 22, Noida and arrested Manoj Kumar Mishra (49 years), son of Harendra Mishra, resident of Sector-22, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Upon sustained interrogation, the accused confessed to the theft, and the Gastropod Fossil

was recovered from his possession. Also, the ticket dated 21.11.2024 that he used for entry into IITF-2024 was also seized from his possession.

PROFILE OF ACCUSED PERSON:

Manoj Kumar Mishra (49 years), son of Harendra Mishra, resident of Sector-22, Noida, Uttar Pradesh: He is an employee of Crown Plaza, Noida, and a regular visitor to the Trade Fair with a keen interest in various art forms. On 21.11.2024, he stole the Gastropod Fossil from the Geological Survey of India stall with the intention of selling it at a high price. On checking his antecedents, he was not found to be involved in any previous criminal case.

RECOVERY:

Gastropod Fossil weighing 1 kg. (dimensions: length-14cms, width- 10cms & height-12cms).

Further investigation is going on in the case.