Month-Long Investigation Nabs Robbery Trio in Uttar Pradesh
In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police has arrested three former delivery agents for allegedly looting a collection agent of a quick commerce company of Rs 5 lakh in the Shadipur area. The arrest, which came over a month after the October 22 incident, was announced on Saturday, November 30.
The accused have been identified as Ram Avtar (24), Sikander (25), and Veeru Sonkar (20). According to the police, the trio was traced to Gonda in Uttar Pradesh following an extensive investigation that combined technical surveillance, meticulous analysis of CCTV footage, and gathering local intelligence.
How the Robbery Was Executed and Planned
The police detailed that the crime occurred on October 22 around 3 pm. The victim, a collection agent for the quick commerce firm, was riding his scooter after having collected cash from various vendors. When he reached Shadipur, three men on a motorcycle intercepted him, blocked his path, and forcibly snatched the bag containing the Rs 5 lakh.
A police team was subsequently dispatched to Gonda, where, with assistance from local sources, the three men were apprehended. During interrogation, a crucial detail emerged: the robbery was an inside job. The police revealed that a fourth accomplice, identified as Manoj, who is still employed with the company and is currently absconding, provided the inside information.
"Manoj, who works at a Patel Nagar outlet, was the one who provided information about the complainant, including the fact that he was carrying cash, as well as details such as the complainant’s scooter number, scooter colour, and other particulars," said DCP Central Nidhin Valsan.
Recovery of Stolen Cash and Ongoing Investigation
Following the arrests, the police managed to recover a significant portion of the stolen money and assets purchased with it. Ram Avtar led the police to Rs 1.37 lakh in cash. From Veeru Sonkar, the police seized a motorcycle, on which he had used his share of the loot to clear a loan, and an iPhone he had purchased.
In the case of Sikander, he had deposited Rs 1.53 lakh into his bank account, which the authorities have now frozen. The clothes worn by the accused during the robbery, which were identified from the CCTV footage, have also been recovered.
Investigators added that while the three arrested men have no formal previous criminal record, they have confessed to their involvement in two snatching incidents registered earlier this year at the Ranjit Nagar police station. A case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered immediately after the robbery, and the investigation is ongoing to apprehend the absconding accomplice, Manoj, and to probe potential links to other crimes in the city.
