Delhi: Two arrested in daylight armed robbery of Rs 10.65 lakh in Shastri Nagar

Delhi Police has arrested two men for allegedly carrying out a daylight armed robbery of over Rs 10.65 lakh in Shastri Nagar, an official said on Friday.

According to the police, the incident occurred on March 26 when the complainant, Abhishek Prajapati, 22, a worker at a Bawana socks factory, had collected Rs 65,000 from Shastri Nagar and Rs 10 lakh from Chandni Chowk on his employer’s instructions.

“He was on his way to deliver the cash when he briefly stopped near the Shastri Nagar Metro subway around 5.50 pm to check directions. At that moment, two motorcycle-borne men intercepted him and, at gunpoint, snatched his backpack containing the entire cash before fleeing towards the metro station,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia said.

The police registered a case at Sarai Rohilla police station and took up an investigation. Subsequently, the accused Dev Maggo, 24, and Rohit Sharma, 34, were arrested from the Ghaziabad’s Ankur Vihar area after a four-day manhunt.

“The duo, related as uncle and nephew, had allegedly robbed the 22-year-old man at gunpoint and fled with a bag containing cash,” the officer said.

Upon interrogation, the team recovered Rs 5.51 lakh in cash, a country-made pistol with one live cartridge, and a motorcycle used in the crime, which had been reported stolen from Bhajanpura last year,” the officer said.

Police said the accused had conducted a recce of the area and targeted the victim after spotting him carrying a backpack, suspecting it contained cash.

They had procured the weapon from Khajuri Khas to threaten the victim during robbery.

“The duo confessed to spending part of the looted money on household expenses and repaying debts. Further efforts are underway to trace the source of the weapon and recover the remaining amount,” the officer said.

He said that both accused have prior involvement in criminal activities, and further investigation is underway.