In a dramatic twist to what initially appeared to be a highway robbery, the Delhi Police uncovered an alleged insider conspiracy behind the theft of Rs 37.5 lakh, arresting three persons, including two employees of the victim’s company, within 24 hours and recovering Rs 36.92 lakh.
The arrested accused were identified as Vipin (29), a graduate and former café owner from Jahangir Puri who has a previous theft case registered against him; Abhishek (26), a graduate employed with the advertising and publishing company for the past two years; and Yogesh (26), who studied up to Class XII and had also been working with the company for two years.
The case came to light after a PCR call on July 9 reported that three motorcycle-borne men had intercepted two company employees near Burari Flyover on Outer Ring Road and robbed them of a bag containing Rs 37.5 lakh. The cash was part of Rs 45.5 lakh collected from Chandni Chowk by employees of a private advertising and newspaper publishing company for delivery to their employer’s residence in Saraswati Vihar.
According to the complaint, employee Mohan Dass and his colleague Abhishek were travelling on one motorcycle carrying Rs 37.5 lakh, while another employee, Yogesh, was following them on a separate motorcycle with Rs 8 lakh. Cops were told that three assailants rammed their motorcycle, snatched the cash bag and fled towards Nirankari Bhawan. The complainants claimed they chased the accused with the help of members of the public and managed to apprehend one of them.
However, instead of handing the suspect over to the police, Abhishek and Yogesh allegedly took him on their motorcycle towards their office in Badli. They later claimed that the accused escaped near GTB Nagar Metro Station after biting Yogesh on the shoulder.
A case was registered at the Wazirabad police station under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and a joint investigation was launched by the police and the North district’s Special Staff.
During investigation, the police examined the CCTV footage from Chandni Chowk to Burari and beyond, analysed call detail records and questioned the company employees. Investigators found inconsistencies in the version narrated by Abhishek and Yogesh. The alleged bite injury on Yogesh’s shoulder appeared suspicious, while the mobile phone of the accused — claimed to have been taken away during the escape — was seized from the storage compartment of the motorcycle used by the two employees.
The police said the evidence exposed the alleged fabricated escape story. During sustained interrogation, Abhishek and Yogesh allegedly confessed to orchestrating the robbery and named Vipin, a close associate, as a co-conspirator.
Technical analysis indicated that Vipin was present in Chandni Chowk when the cash was collected. Police then laid a trap by making him believe that his associates had escaped suspicion and were demanding their share of the stolen money. Believing the story, Vipin revealed his location in Jahangir Puri, where he was arrested on July 10 while allegedly attempting to flee.
A search of his residence led to the seizure of Rs 36.92 lakh. Cops also seized four mobile phones and a motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crime.
During questioning, the accused allegedly disclosed that they had become acquainted at a café previously run by Vipin in Rohini. Abhishek and Yogesh allegedly told him that they regularly transported large sums of cash on behalf of their employer, following which they conspired to stage the robbery. Vipin allegedly recruited three more associates to execute the plan, while the employees allegedly facilitated the crime by sharing details of the cash movement.