Jaipur, Oct 29 — A thief broke into the residence of senior BJP MLA and former minister Pratap Singh Singhvi in Jaipur’s Civil Lines, one of the city’s high-security areas, late Wednesday night, officials said on Thursday.
The incident drew a sharp reaction from the Opposition Congress, which said that the deteriorating law and order issue under the BJP-led government in the state has created panic among the people.
The intruder reportedly remained inside the premises for nearly an hour while more than 10 people were asleep in the house.
According to Singhvi’s personal assistant (PA), Rajveer Singh, the thief fled with approximately Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and some artificial jewellery. CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced.
According to the police, the incident took place around 2.15 a.m. on Thursday.
The masked intruder allegedly broke a kitchen window to enter the house and used a screwdriver to break its lock. CCTV footage reportedly shows the suspect carrying a bag over his shoulder. After entering the property, he crawled on his knees through the garden area before making his way towards the main building.
The suspect’s face is not clearly visible in the footage. When the family discovered the incident in the morning, they found the kitchen window broken and household items scattered around.
The MLA’s residence is located approximately 300 metres from Raj Bhavan and around 500 metres from the Chief Minister’s official residence. More than 100 policemen are deployed round the clock in the area, where the movement of vehicles and people entering or leaving is monitored. Despite these security arrangements, the theft has raised questions about security in the high-security locality.
According to family members, Singhvi, who also resides at the house, is currently in his assembly constituency of Chhabra in Baran district in connection with the panchayat elections. The family informed him about the theft after discovering it on Thursday morning.
Singhvi subsequently spoke to the Jaipur Police Commissioner over the phone. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Sodala police station was among the first officials to reach the spot. DCP (South) also visited the residence to assess the situation.
A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has been called to inspect the venue for evidence. Officials said a special team is investigating the case.
Jewellery worth approximately Rs 1 lakh, along with artificial jewellery, has been stolen. The suspects are being identified based on CCTV footage, and the accused will be arrested soon, said DCP Rajiv Raj.
Reacting to the burglary, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the BJP government over the law-and-order situation in Jaipur, alleging that rising crime incidents were creating fear among the public.
Gehlot said, “Law and order in Jaipur, the state capital, has completely collapsed. The persistent occurrence of crimes in the city is instilling fear among the general public. On Wednesday night in Jamdoli, five miscreants attacked two jeweller brothers with iron rods and sticks and looted Rs 20 lakh. When a woman attempted to chase the perpetrators, they opened fire at her. Earlier this month, on October 1, a theft worth Rs 5 crore took place at a watch showroom on Tonk Road.”
“Furthermore, a theft has been reported at the residence of former minister Pratap Singh Singhvi in Civil Lines—an area considered among the most secure in Jaipur and home to both the Governor and the Chief Minister. If thieves can enter such a heavily protected locality, what assurance of safety can the common man possibly have?” he said.
“A few days ago, a businessman was abducted from Jaipur’s Central Park. The BJP government has now been in power for nearly three years. It is time to move beyond spending crores on advertisements and instead focus on law and order and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of the general public,” Gehlot said.