5 held for robbing retd scientist
The Crime Branch and local police on Monday cracked a daylight dacoity case where an elderly couple was held hostage and robbed of over Rs 2 crore and jewellery.
The Crime Branch team arrested three persons involved in the crime and recovered over Rs 1.1 crore of the stolen money, while the local police arrested two people and recovered Rs 14.42 lakh — Rs 10.15 lakh in cash, Rs. 2.89 lakh freezed in bank account and a phone purchased worth Rs 1.38 lakh after the incident.
On October 18, the complainant, Dr Sibbu Singh Verma, a senior scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reported that five armed men disguised as courier personnel entered his residence in Prashant Vihar.
The robbers overpowered Verma and his wife at gunpoint, tied them up and locked them in a room. The assailants then ransacked the house, seizing around Rs 2 crore in cash and 260 gm of gold jewellery before fleeing the scene.
Additional CP, Crime Branch, Sanjay Bhatia said, “After 60 hours of continuous effort, a breakthrough came when head constable Narender received information about the movement of two suspects. The information led to the arrest of Kamal, alias Amandeep, and Ashish, alias Ashu, from the Narela flyover on GT Road.
Upon searching their bags, the police recovered Rs 76 lakh in cash and the motorcycle used in the crime was also seized.
Meanwhile, the second team tracked the other suspects and based on intelligence and CCTV footage, the team arrested Pawan Singh from Sonepat.
“Pawan Singh was arrested with Rs 34 lakh. During interrogation, he disclosed the involvement of other gang members, including Gaurav, Krishan and Dipti,” added the Additional CP.
The gang had meticulously planned the heist after Gaurav conducted recce and gathered information about the victim’s residence.
Kamal (22), a resident of Sonepat and a BA final-year student, worked as a club bouncer. Struggling with debt and lured by the promise of quick money, Kamal got involved in planning the robbery. Ashish (22) from Jatheri village in Sonepat had dropped out of school after failing in Class XII. He worked as an autorickshaw driver. Burdened by his late father’s debts and other financial troubles, he joined Kamal in the robbery plot to escape his hardships.
The third accused, Pawan Singh (22), also a resident of Sonepat, admitted to participating in the armed robbery after being recruited by Kamal, according to the police. An official said Pawan was seen stopping at a dhaba in Murthal, as revealed by CCTV footage. “It was found that he was scribbling on a small chit, where he had mentioned the location of the hidden money,” the official added.
Meanwhile, the local police arrested Jasmeen Singh, alias Gifty (42), and Gaurav Kawatra (36) from Karol Bagh. Kawatra, a former employee at the complainant’s son’s showroom, had provided information to the accused, a police official said.
