Fingerprint helps solve case after 12 years

Prints lifted from crime scene help police identify burglar of Kalu and Billa gang

Sabir Malik was held by the police recently in another case

Fingerprints lifted from a crime scene about 12 years ago helped the Delhi Police identify a burglar, who was arrested by the Crime Branch under the Arms Act a few days ago, the police said on Sunday.

Sabir Malik from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and his accomplices had allegedly committed a burglary at the house of businessman Lalit Batra in Kalkaji in December 2006.

Chance prints

They had made away with ₹30,000, jewellery and other valuables. The crime remained unsolved and was declared a blind case as identities of the suspects could not be established despite all efforts, said the police.

“Back in 2006, the investigators inspected the crime scene with a crime investigation team and collected chance prints of suspects from the spot. Chance prints are fingerprints of suspects found at the crime scene.The chance prints were preserved in the records of the crime record office [CRO] at Kamla Market for further investigation,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Chinmoy Biswal.

Confessed to many thefts

The inter-State cell of Crime Branch arrested Malik with a firearm on Wednesday. During the interrogation, Malik confessed to involvement in several theft and burglary cases. His fingerprints were obtained and sent to the CRO for a match with fingerprints collected from various crime scenes. The Crime Branch officers then produced Malik before a city court, which sent him to jail.

A police officer said the CRO officers matched Malik’s fingerprints with the available chance prints. They found that his fingerprints were a match for the chance prints collected from Mr. Batra’s house in Kalkaji in 2006. The CRO officers intimated the Kalkaji police about the discovery.

“Malik’s custody was secured and during interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the crime,” said Mr. Biswal, adding the businessman was updated about the arrest of the burglar in his case. “No recovery has been made because the stolen items were sold by the accused just after the theft,” he added.

The police said Malik was an active member of Kalu and Billa gang, which has committed several burglary and thefts in Delhi and other States. The gang also has women members.