A thief broke into the Civil Lines residence of senior Bharatiya Janata Party legislator and former minister Pratap Singh Singhvi in Jaipur early on Thursday and took approximately Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and artificial jewellery, according to the MLA's personal assistant Rajveer Singh, Nation Press reported.

Source: Nation Press

According to police, the intrusion took place at around 2.15 am on Thursday. The masked suspect allegedly broke a kitchen window, using a screwdriver to force the lock, before entering the premises. CCTV footage reportedly shows the intruder carrying a bag over his shoulder and crawling through the garden area on his knees before reaching the main building, and his face is not clearly visible in the footage. The intruder reportedly remained inside for nearly an hour while more than 10 people were asleep in the house, and the family discovered the break-in in the morning after finding the kitchen window shattered and household items scattered.

Source: Nation Press

The residence is located barely 300 metres from Raj Bhavan and around 500 metres from the Chief Minister's official residence, in a locality where more than 100 policemen are deployed round the clock, the reports said. Rajasthan Ka Panchhi reported the same details, including the 2.15 am entry through the kitchen window, the nearly one hour spent inside, and Rajveer Singh's account of Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and artificial jewellery taken.

Source: Rajasthan Ka Panchhi

Singhvi, who represents Chhabra, was in his assembly constituency in Baran district in connection with panchayat elections at the time. He was informed of the burglary on Thursday morning and spoke to the Jaipur Police Commissioner by phone. The Sodala police station SHO and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) visited the residence, a Forensic Science Laboratory team was called to collect evidence, a special team was formed, and DCP Rajiv Raj said suspects were being identified from CCTV footage, Nation Press reported.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the BJP-led state government over the incident, saying law and order in Jaipur had collapsed and asking what assurance of safety ordinary citizens had if thieves could enter such a heavily protected locality, Nation Press reported. AR Live News also reported the break-in, the FSL team's evidence collection and the CCTV-based effort to identify the intruder.

Source: AR Live News