With the arrest of three persons, Delhi Police on Friday busted a gang of cheats that looted around 700 smart LED televisions from several shopkeepers in Old Lajpat Rai Market, out of which police were able to recover 510 TVs worth Rs 60 lakh from a godown in Sonipat, Haryana.

According to police, the accused persons were identified as Vikas (35), Harender (33), and Praveen (33), all residents of Sonepat, Haryana.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Rajiv Ranjan stated that on Thursday, information was received that the gang of cheats who stole 700 smart LED TVs have escaped to Sonepat along with the goods. A case was registered at Kotwali police station by a shopkeeper Shasikant Gupta.

"The information was developed and it was revealed that the LED TV's were kept in a godown situated at Gohana Road, Sonepat, in Haryana. A team of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Crime Branch raided the spot and arrested the three accused and recovered 510 LED Smart TVs," he said.

"On Sustained interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused Vikas ran into losses of around 40-45 lakhs.  He then struck an idea of cheating the shopkeepers of Lajpat Rai Market by using a 'Set Up'. He was joined by accused Anil and Harendra.  Anil took a shop on rent at Bhagirath Palace by using fake documents in the rent agreement," said the DCP.

"Further, they purchased several SIM cards and started their shop.  Initially, they purchased few LED TV's from the shopkeepers of the area in cash and then they started dealing in credit, finally, in the last week of January and first two days of February, they took around 700 Smart LED TV's from several shopkeepers  and fled from the area," he added.