LUCKNOW, May 8 -- Police in Barabanki have claimed to have cracked a high-profile burglary case involving theft of jewellery and valuables worth nearly Rs.10 crore from a luxury villa in the city, with the alleged mastermind turning out to be the son of a retired IRS officer and neighbour of the complainant. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Barabanki SP Arpit Vijayvargiya informed the media persons that the main accused, Akash Thakur alias Yash, allegedly committed the crime after suffering heavy financial losses in betting and online trading activities over the past few months. According to police, a retired IRS officer (who retired as an assistant commissioner in 2016), lives in a villa at Shalimar Paradise Society in Barabanki. His son Akash stayed with him there. Directly opposite their residence lived contractor Ajay Singh Baghel and his family. Police said Akash was aware that valuables and expensive jewellery were kept inside Baghel's villa as the bedrooms and balconies of both houses faced each other. When Baghel and his family left for Gorakhpur on April 20, the accused allegedly began planning the theft, which was executed on the intervening night of April 24 and 25. "Before committing the crime, the accused conducted a detailed recce to identify possible entry points. He first tried opening the sliding door and later attempted to access the upper floor, but returned after finding a room locked. Subsequently, he entered through the side balcony and reached the upper portion of the villa where the valuables were kept," the SP said. The incident took place under the Mohammadpur police outpost area of Kotwali city police station limits. Police said complainant Ajay Singh Baghel, originally from Deoria and engaged in PWD contracting work, had gone to Gorakhpur with his family on April 20 and returned on April 30. Upon entering the villa, he found cupboards broke open and valuables missing. The stolen items included diamond-studded jewellery, gold and silver ornaments, emerald jewellery and a licensed pistol. Baghel immediately informed police after discovering the burglary. Police examined CCTV footage between April 19 and 27 and analysed mobile phone locations of people connected to the area. Investigators said part of the stolen jewellery was allegedly sold to associates, while some ornaments were to be melted before distribution of proceeds among the accused....