Bank robbery cracked, Mohali resident arrested

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 11

A 34-year-old Mohali resident, who had lost his job during the Covid-induced lockdown, has been arrested by the local police for allegedly looting Rs8.65 lakh from a branch of Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank in Sector 61.

UT SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said Harjot Singh, a resident of Phase III-A, had been arrested. “We have recovered Rs8.48 lakh, an air pistol (toy gun) and a Swift car. The remaining Rs17,000 was spent by the suspect,” the SSP said.

Was in the habit of taking cough syrup

The police claimed that the suspect was in the habit of taking a cough syrup and often used to visit the Sector 61 market. “During the lockdown, he lost his job due to which he was in need of money, which led him to commit crime,” the police said.

He said the suspect robbed the bank using an air pistol after which he escaped in his car, which was parked nearby. The suspect is a bachelor in pharmacy and was into a sales and marketing job. The police claimed that the suspect was habitual of taking a cough syrup and often used to visit the Sector 61 market. “During the lockdown, he lost his job due to which he was in need of money, which led him to crime,” the police said.

During the investigation, the police found that the CCTV cameras of the bank were not working. Bank employees were questioned about the description of the looter. They felt the person may be known in the area.

“Suspected persons, drug addicts as well as previous convicts in such type of crimes in the adjoining area were interrogated and CCTV footage of adjoining sectors was scrutinised, which helped in identifying the suspect,” the police said.

The suspect has no criminal past. He was produced in a court and sent to two-day police remand.