The Delhi Police Crime Branch on Monday arrested a man for being involved in an incident of theft of mercury and saffron worth ₹40 lakh.

The arrest was made at Tilak Bazar in Lahori Gate, they said. The accused, identified as Karan Singh (23), is a resident of the same area. He hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda.

Karan, who worked as a porter, and four others allegedly committed the theft. The search for the other accused is under way. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code in the matter.

Recovery

Stolen goods worth around ₹25 lakh have been seized from the arrested accused. The recovery includes 160 grams of saffron in 15 boxes; 2,300 grams of saffron in plastic packets; five bottles of mercury and a box of low-quality mercury.

The theft was committed on the intervening night of November 29 and 30 in Tilak Bazar. The police got a breakthrough in the case on December 23, after they received a tip-off about Karan’s movement. Acting on the information, a raiding team was pressed into service. A trap was laid to nab the culprits.

During interrogation, Karan confessed to having committed the crime and also revealed the identity of his co-accused. He told the police that one Praveen Kumar came up with the idea of robbery.

Praveen, a dealer of incense sticks, allegedly shared the idea with Karan’s friend Dinesh Kumar and urged Dinesh be a part of the plan.

“Praveen urged Dinesh to commit the theft. He assured that he would easily dispose the stolen saffron and mercury, and promised to pay a good price for the stolen goods,” said a police officer.

Dinesh introduced Praveen to Karan and the other three accused in the case. The stolen booty was kept at a hideout in the city’s Sonia Vihar. Praveen and Dinesh had taken some of the stolen goods for sale.

The police said further investigation in the case is under way.