Three arrested for Rs 81 lakh robbery in north Delhi, over half of money recovered

Three arrested for robbing Rs 81 lakh from money collection agent

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) – The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has arrested three men for allegedly robbing Rs 81 lakh from a money collection agent in Narela area of north Delhi. The accused were identified as Lalit, Lokesh aka Loki, and Ajay, all residents of Narela.

According to police, the complainant Vinod reported that on February 16 afternoon, he withdrew Rs 81 lakh from his account at Axis Bank in Anaj Mandi, Narela, and put the cash in a bag. As he was about to start his two-wheeler after exiting the bank, two unidentified men attempted to snatch his cash-filled bag, with one of them brandishing a pistol. The assailants made off with the Rs 81 lakh and fled on a bike.

Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime, Sanjay Bhatia said that following the incident, the police conducted a thorough investigation and sought the inputs of confidential informants in the surrounding Delhi-NCR areas.

“Acting on specific intelligence received on Thursday, the police set up a trap near Jony Farm, Safiabad-Narela Road, where Lokesh and his two associates were expected to meet an acquaintance,” he said. Subsequently, Lalit, Lokesh, and Ajay were apprehended.

Upon interrogation, all the accused confessed that they had conducted reconnaissance on Vinod’s movements regarding the withdrawal of a large sum on February 16. This information was then relayed to individuals in Sonipat, Haryana, who opened gunfire to forcibly rob Vinod of Rs 81 lakh.

The police have recovered Rs 50 lakh from the possession of the accused and are continuing the hunt for other individuals involved in the robbery. The investigation is ongoing as the police work to ensure all those responsible for the crime are brought to justice.