Ahmedabad: A white scooter captured on CCTV footage led police to two men accused of snatching Gujarati author Kaajal Oza Vaidya’s luxury handbag from an autorickshaw.The incident occurred early on Wednesday after Vaidya, who had boarded Gujarat Mail in Mumbai, got off at Maninagar railway station. The accused allegedly followed her autorickshaw and grabbed the handbag after the vehicle slowed at a speed breaker in the Kagadapith area.While there was no CCTV at the crime spot, police examined CCTV footage along the route and allegedly found the two men pursuing the autorickshaw on a white Suzuki Burgman scooter.Zone VI local crime branch kept watch for the suspects after receiving a tip that they would travel from Khokhra bridge towards Raipur through the rail yard.In the presence of panch witnesses, officers intercepted the duo near the rail yard. Police identified the accused as Tanveer Sheikh and Faizan Saiyed, both aged 21 and residents of Rahmati Mohalla in Danilimda.Police said Sheikh and Saiyed had previously been involved in theft cases registered at Kagdapith, Khadia, Maninagar, and Narol police stations. Both had earlier been detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) and lodged in a jail in Surat, according to officials.Officers recovered a brown Louis Vuitton handbag, a smaller purse, six bank cards, two mobile phones, and a pen drive. They also seized the scooter allegedly used in the crime. Police valued the recovered property, including the vehicle, at Rs 1.7 lakh.Police alleged that the two would borrow their friends’ two-wheelers and roam around the Kalupur and Maninagar railway station areas looking for women travelling alone in autorickshaws. They allegedly targeted passengers during the early morning hours, snatched their bags, and fled.In a video message circulated by Zone VI police, Vaidya praised the officers for acting swiftly.
