Indian police formed investigative team to hunt thieves who stole two jackfruits from MP's tree

It was a complaint of theft from the residence of a Member of Parliament that made the Delhi Police form a special team to investigate the crime. Soon after the complaint came in, police dispatched a team from its fingerprints bureau and one from its crime investigating department to Janata Dal United’s Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad’s bungalow.



On reaching the bungalow, they were directed to the garden. They were there to probe the case of two missing jackfruits. A senior police officer said, “The MP’s personal assistant called the police station to report the theft. When a team of officers reached the spot, it was found that two jackfruits were missing from the tree, which had nine fruits. The MP reportedly noticed it in the morning and alerted his personal assistant who in turn informed police.

“Based on a complaint from his PA, we have registered a case of theft and are investigating the matter. More than 10 officers scoured the garden for clues that would lead them to the culprit(s). Fingerprints were lifted from the garden and the backyard to establish the path that thieves might have taken. Close inspection of the crime spot and investigations led us to a trail of footprints. The footprints, measuring approximately six inches, appears to be those of children who may have jumped the fence to steal the fruit.


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“The fingerprints and footprints that were lifted from the spot have been sent to the forensics department for examination,” the officer added. The investigators have been asked to be on their toes to catch the accused. Investigators later questioning security guards, servants and drivers. CCTV footage from outside the MP’s bungalow and his backyard was also examined. However, the fate of the missing fruit remains unknown, and investigators fear the worst. “They must have been cooked and eaten,” said one officer investigating the theft. “The two jackfruit weighed 10 kg each,” he said, giving details. The thieves must have been hungry, he guessed.