New Delhi: Police have arrested a 37-year- old cook for allegedly stealing Rs 22 lakh from BJP MP Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh's official residence in Lutyens' Delhi. The accused, Rajkumar alias Raju, was arrested based on a complaint filed by the MP's son Kunwar Sushant Singh on October 9, the police said. 

"He informed the police in his complaint that someone committed theft after breaking locks of his residence in Delhi. On the basis of his complaint, a case was registered," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) B K Singh said. The cook was suspected to be behind the theft based on CCTV footage. Police also checked the cook's slippers and they matched with shoe prints lifted from the spot, said the officer. 

During questioning, the accused revealed that he had been working as a cook at the MP's residence from a long time. The MP's family considered him very loyal and faithful. He was aware that Rs 22 lakh was kept in the house in Delhi, said the DCP. On September 27, he, along with the MP, went to the latter's native village in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, where he removed the keys from the bag of the MP. 

On October 6, he returned to Delhi and opened the lock of the entrance gate. He gained entry inside their home, but he was not having the key to the room, where the cash was kept. He then broke the lock and fled with the cash. He returned to the MP's native place where he kept the cash in a plastic box and buried it in a deserted field, Singh added. Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh represents Moradabad in the Lok Sabha.