Famous Thieves of India: Legends of Urban Crime
India’s history is not only shaped by rulers, warriors, and reformers but also by individuals who operated in the shadows of society: thieves. Unlike rural bandits or dacoits, urban thieves specialized in theft, burglary, pickpocketing, and high-profile heists. Their stories often straddle the line between crime and legend, capturing public imagination for their audacity, skill, and cunning. This article explores some of the most famous thieves in Indian history.
1. Natwarlal – The King of Conmen
Natwarlal, born Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava in 1912 in Bihar, is arguably India’s most legendary thief and conman. Known for his audacious scams, Natwarlal allegedly “sold” iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan multiple times. Using forged documents and impeccable confidence, he cheated wealthy individuals, companies, and sometimes even government authorities.
Natwarlal’s fame came from both the scale of his cons and his ability to escape arrest repeatedly. He was imprisoned multiple times but always managed to evade long-term incarceration. Natwarlal died in 1996, leaving behind stories of elaborate cons that continue to inspire fascination in Indian folklore.
2. Amritlal “Lallu” – Mumbai’s Master Pickpocket
In mid-20th century Mumbai, Amritlal, popularly known as Lallu, gained fame for his unmatched pickpocketing skills. Operating in crowded trains, marketplaces, and festivals, Lallu could relieve unsuspecting victims of wallets, jewelry, and watches with astonishing dexterity.
Unlike violent criminals, Lallu’s reputation rested on skill and stealth rather than force. Police officers often expressed admiration for his clever techniques, even while attempting to capture him. His exploits are still cited in criminology studies and local folklore as examples of high-level sleight-of-hand theft.
3. Ranjit Singh – The Jewel Thief
During the 1970s and 1980s, Mumbai was home to a surge in high-value jewel thefts, with Ranjit Singh emerging as one of the most notorious jewel thieves. Singh targeted affluent households and elite families, often bypassing advanced security measures of the time.
Ranjit Singh’s criminal career is notable for his meticulous planning. Unlike street-level pickpockets, he operated in well-coordinated strikes, sometimes involving accomplices. His heists became legendary, inspiring a mix of fear and intrigue among the urban elite.
4. Bishwajit Ghosh – Mastermind of Gold Heists
In Kolkata during the late 20th century, Bishwajit Ghosh became infamous for orchestrating high-stakes gold thefts. Ghosh and his gang targeted banks, warehouses, and private vaults, making away with gold bullion worth crores of rupees.
What set Ghosh apart was his strategic approach. He studied the targets meticulously, often exploiting loopholes in security systems and using inside information. His heists highlighted the vulnerability of financial institutions in India before modern surveillance systems became widespread.
5. Sushant Sinha – The Diamond Thief
Sushant Sinha gained notoriety for stealing high-value diamonds in Kolkata and Delhi during the 1990s. Operating primarily in urban jewelry markets, Sinha specialized in timing, disguise, and deception.
He was particularly clever in blending into the bustling market environments, striking when attention was low. Although eventually apprehended, Sinha’s daring exploits became part of India’s urban crime lore, especially in the diamond trade circles.
6. Surinder Koli – The Bank Robber
During the 1990s, Surinder Koli made headlines in Haryana and Punjab for multiple bank thefts. Unlike jewel thieves, Koli and his gang focused on financial institutions, often using tactical planning and inside help to breach security systems.
Koli’s operations caused widespread panic among banking communities. His heists were studied by law enforcement for lessons in crime prevention, and his eventual arrest underscored the importance of modernized bank security.
7. Hari Ram & Co. – Pickpocket Legends of Kolkata
In Kolkata’s busy railway stations and market areas during the 1980s, a group known as Hari Ram & Co. specialized in pickpocketing. The gang was notorious for its coordination and ability to operate in highly crowded environments without attracting attention.
Their success lay in teamwork and timing. While street-level thefts often go unnoticed in history books, Hari Ram & Co. became infamous for disrupting city life and forcing police to devise new crowd-management and anti-pickpocket strategies.
8. Kumar & Gang – Art and Antique Thieves
The theft of art and antiques in India has always drawn attention due to the cultural and historical value of the stolen items. Kumar & Gang, active in Delhi during the early 2000s, stole several paintings and antiques from private collections.
Their operations involved careful reconnaissance, use of advanced tools, and precise execution. While many stolen items were eventually recovered, the gang’s exploits remain a cautionary tale for collectors and security professionals alike.
9. Modern Cybercrime Syndicates
The nature of theft in India has evolved with technology. Today, organized criminal groups engage in cyber theft, ATM skimming, credit card fraud, and digital wallet hacking.
These syndicates may not be “thieves” in the traditional sense, but their activities continue the legacy of urban theft in modern form. High-profile cases, such as ATM malware attacks in major metros, illustrate how criminal ingenuity has adapted to digital environments.
10. The Legacy of Urban Thieves
Unlike rural dacoits, urban thieves operate in proximity to society’s centers of wealth. Their fame often comes not from brutality but from skill, cunning, and audacity. Figures like Natwarlal, Lallu, and Bishwajit Ghosh are remembered for their daring operations and cleverness. Modern cybercriminals, though faceless, continue to capture attention through sophisticated heists.
The fascination with thieves lies in their audacity and ingenuity. While illegal, their exploits reflect a complex interplay of opportunity, intelligence, and circumstance. Stories of these urban thieves are part of India’s rich tapestry of crime history, often inspiring both caution and intrigue.
FAQs on Famous Thieves of India
Q1. Who was Natwarlal and why is he famous?
Natwarlal, born Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava, was India’s most notorious conman. He became famous for selling iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort using forged documents. His clever scams made him a legend in Indian crime history.
Q2. What was the biggest theft in India?
One of the largest thefts was the Punjab National Bank fraud (2018) involving Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, valued at over ₹11,000 crore. While not a street-level theft, it remains India’s most infamous financial crime.
Q3. Who was Mumbai’s most famous pickpocket?
Amritlal “Lallu” was Mumbai’s legendary pickpocket, renowned in the mid-20th century for his unmatched sleight-of-hand skills in crowded trains and marketplaces.
Q4. Are dacoits the same as thieves?
No. Dacoits were armed gangs operating in rural areas, often violent and organized, while thieves usually specialized in urban crimes like burglary, pickpocketing, or fraud.
Q5. What is the most common form of theft in India today?
Today, the most common forms of theft are cybercrimes such as credit card fraud, UPI scams, phishing, and ATM skimming. With digital transactions on the rise, financial cyber theft has overtaken traditional pickpocketing in scale.
Q6. Has India produced “Robin Hood”-style thieves?
Yes, several thieves and conmen gained reputations for redistributing wealth or targeting only the rich. Folk narratives often portray Natwarlal and some jewel thieves in this light, though the reality was usually more self-serving.
Q7. Which city in India was historically most affected by theft?
Major metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi witnessed some of the most famous thefts due to their wealth concentration. Pickpocketing and jewel thefts were rampant in Mumbai and Kolkata during the 20th century.
Q8. How do Indian police deal with modern thieves?
Law enforcement has adapted with advanced surveillance, forensic tools, and cybercrime cells. However, as technology evolves, thieves also adapt, making theft prevention an ongoing challenge.
Conclusion
India’s history of urban theft offers a glimpse into human ingenuity at its most morally ambiguous. From Natwarlal’s legendary cons to the sleight-of-hand mastery of Lallu, from diamond heists to cybercrime, thieves have consistently challenged law enforcement while captivating public imagination. These stories, while cautionary, continue to intrigue society, offering lessons on security, vigilance, and the enduring fascination with audacious criminal minds.
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