CARPENTER SARFRAZ appears to be a small fish caught by the Chandigarh Police while big sharks sitting in mega cities are yet to be nailed in the theft of 48 heritage chairs from Panjab University.

Sarfraz has been in the business of wooden carpentering for 10 years, near Sri Singh Sabha Gurdwara at Baltana. Earlier, his name had cropped up during the investigation into theft of heritage furniture and manhole covers.

Sarfraz has a wife and four children. One of the close relatives of Sarfraz, Mohammed Yaseen, said, “Although Sarfraz was arrested for the first time, we were aware of his involvement in the thefts of furniture for a long time. We advised him not to indulge in these activities but he did not pay any heed (to our advice). We distanced ourselves from him. Wooden carpentering is our family business. Almost all of our family members are in the furniture business. I own a small furniture manufacturing unit at Mor Thikri near Derabassi. There are big people, who are the real beneficiaries. Sarfraz is a small fish.”

A visit to the Sarfraz Carpenter Hand Graffi in Ward 14, Baltana, showed the first accused arrested in theft of 48 heritage chairs from PU has a registered GST number for his firm. He has employed two workers on Rs 1,000 daily wages.

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The crime branch arrested Sarfraz in connection with theft of 48 heritage chairs on Saturday. The chairs were stolen from the psychology department of PU between October 1 and 3. At least 20 chairs out of 48 were recovered from the accused’s possession.1 Sources said role of certain fourth class employees of PU is also under the scanner.

SP (crime) Manoj Kumar Meena said, “We have leads about the handlers of Sarfraz sitting in metro cities. Efforts are being made to identify and trace them. Sarfraz used to repair and also disassemble the furniture.” Sources said the possibility of transporting these items after disassembling to the foreign countries cannot be ruled out. Sarfraz is in police custody of crime branch. A case was registered at Sector 11 PS.

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• 1. A source in the crime branch said, “The call detail scrutiny of Sarfraz and his interrogation indicates that he was getting a little share from his handlers in Mumabi and Delhi. Vijay along with his other accomplices are being questioned.”