A pacemaker is usually a reminder for patients to move through life cautiously. But for Deepak Garg, a resident of Panipat in Haryana, it became a tool for deception. Posing as a patient in need of treatment, he allegedly checked into private nursing homes only to steal items from inside the facilities. His latest target was a private hospital in Matigara, from where he was arrested on Thursday.
Police recovered two tablets and a laptop from him. After the arrest, Deepak reportedly fell ill and had to be admitted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
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According to police sources, Deepak got himself admitted to the Matigara hospital in the first week of November. On 7 November, he suddenly disappeared from the premises. At first, the hospital staff were concerned about a patient going missing. Soon after, they discovered that a laptop and a tablet had also vanished.
A complaint was filed the same day by Dr. Sanjit Sarkar of the hospital. He told police that the stolen laptop contained specialised software worth nearly ₹6 lakh along with important documents and data.
During the investigation, police learned that Deepak was from Panipat and had been involved in similar thefts in Siliguri and other parts of West Bengal. Before fleeing, he had purchased medicines online from the hospital’s pharmacy, which gave investigators a payment trail.
His mobile phone remained switched off for several days, slowing down the probe. Police then examined CCTV footage from different locations and analysed his digital payment history. On Thursday, his phone briefly switched on, revealing his location in Siliguri’s Mahakal Pally. A police team moved quickly and arrested him.
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Officers also found that two other nursing homes in Siliguri and nearby areas had reported similar thefts in recent months. Investigators are now checking whether Deepak was involved in those cases as well.
A Matigara Police Station official said, “Deepak is currently admitted to the hospital. Once he recovers, he will be produced before court. Further questioning will help us understand the full extent of his activities.”
