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ALLAHABAD: The Pratapgarh police arrested a man and his two accomplices on Monday evening for executing over 65 thefts to foot his wife’s poll expenses.

The thief , identified as Panch Lal Verma, targeted houses of politicians, their relatives, government officers, and prominent traders in Pratapgarh district, including a close relative of state minister Dr Mahendra Pratap Singh at Karmajeetpur village, under Kandhai police station, last month, police claimed.

Questioned by police, Verma said he turned into a thief after his wife won the gram pradhan election from Madhawa village, in Lalganj block of Pratapgarh district.

Pratapgarh SP (city) Purnendu Singh told TOI, “Panch Lal Verma’s wife, Sangeeta Verma, a resident of Poore Rahman Madhawa, under Lalganj police station, had contested the gram pradhan election and won.”

“Panch Lal revealed that he had borrowed around Rs 20-25 lakh from neighbours, relatives and others to cover the expenses of his wife’s campaign, and also spent money on celebrations after she got elected,” the SP said.

Finding no other way to clear his debts, Panch Lal formed a gang and executed more than five dozen thefts and burglaries over three years in Pratapgarh district and neighbouring areas.

Lal and his accomplices recently targeted 10 houses, including the house of a relative of state minister Dr Mahendra Pratap Singh in Pratapgarh, following which the IG (Allahabad range) visited the crime scenes.

Verma told police they used to sell the stolen jewellery to a local jeweller who used to give them 60% of the cost of the jewellery. Police have recovered 44 gm of gold, 1.278 kg of silver, Rs 12,100 in cash, one .315 rifle, one 12 bore country-made pistol and live cartridges from his possession.

