Aide booked for computer, iphone theft from official residence of SP MLA

Lucknow: A theft case has been reported from the official residence of Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra in Lucknow, with the legislator accusing a youth associated with his social media work of fleeing with electronic gadgets worth lakhs of rupees. According to the complaint lodged with Hussainganj Police Station, the incident took place at flat numbers 31 and 32 in the MLA residence complex at Royal Hotel-4, where the MLA also operates his office. Station house officer, Shiv Mangal Singh, said the accused, identified as Arihant Jain, had been engaged to manage the MLA’s social media platforms. Mehrotra alleged that Jain had requested high-end systems and devices for the work, following which he was provided with computers and an iPhone 17. He was also allowed to stay in flat number 32. In his complaint, the MLA alleged that Jain disappeared late on Thursday night without informing anyone and took away the room keys. When repeated calls to his mobile phone either went unanswered or the device was found switched off, suspicion arose. The MLA later got the flat opened with a spare key and found that two computers and the iPhone were missing, police said. During scrutiny of CCTV footage installed at the MLA residence, one of the cameras outside the premises was found damaged. Footage from other cameras reportedly showed a four-wheeler entering the complex between 1 am and 1.20 am. Two youths were seen getting out of the vehicle and, along with Jain, allegedly loading items from the room into the car before fleeing towards Burlington crossing. Police said the registration number of the vehicle could not be identified as the camera had been damaged.