Delhi ATM cash robbers held, Rs 2.36 cr recovered

Mangalore Today/ ITV

New Delhi, Sep 30 : Delhi police today claimed to have arrested one robber and two accomplices in the Friday Rs 5.25 crore ATM cash heist , while four other robbers are still absconding. Raids are in progress, police said. Vivek Gogia, joint commissioner of police, south-western range, told mediapersons that  Deepak Sharma, 34, was taken into custody on Saturday from Sector 5 in Pushp Vihar in south Delhi.

Police said they had recovered Rs.2,36,85,000 out  of the Rs.5.25 crore that was looted from a van carrying cash belonging to ICICI Bank.

”Deepak Sharma is the mastermind of the heist,” said  Vivek Gogia.

Co-accused Mukesh and Tekram were arrested for helping Deepak in the robbery, police said. A hunt is on for four others involved in the crime.

At the time of Deepak’s arrest a 9 mm pistol, two magazines and Rs.1.5 crore were recovered from him, police said, adding that he was involved in three other robberies.

The heist took place on Friday afternoon in upmarket Defence Colony in Delhi. The guard of the van who was killed was identified as Munna Singh, 40.

The cash van was found abandoned two hours after the robbery from Hauz Rani in south Delhi. Two empty trunks were recovered from it.

 

 

Gogia said, inter-state criminal Deepak Sharma,  s/o Bishambar Sharma, resident of 254, Sector-5, Pushpa Vihar,  was intercepted with one 9 mm pistol and ammunition and on his instance Rs. 1.51 crores were recovered from his house in Pushpa Vihar. 
In two other raids conducted in neighbouring states, Delhi Police recovered additional cash Rs. 85.85 lacs from relatives of other co-accused  Other robbers have been accurately pin-pointed and the raids are going on to nab the rest, Gogia said.
“On Saturday, the day after the robbery, one house in Khirki Extension was identified which was believed to be used by the suspects.
“ Since the suspects were also armed, a proper raid was planned involving 5 teams from all over the district armed with BP jackets and weapons.
“ From local enquiries, the information was also developed that the house belongs to a criminal Hari Kishan, who had recently purchased this house in his wife’s name and had recently shifted there. 
“Raid on the house led to the recovery of car keys of Maruti Echo (Radio Taxi) and some more incriminating documents were also found which indicated that several criminals possible co-accused had visited and stayed there. 
“Search around the suspects’ house also led to the recovery of broken iron boxes (currency chest), about 100 meters away from the suspects house”, Gogia said.