Rs 16.5 lakh gunpoint robbery case solved; one held, Rs 2.5 lakh recovered

New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) The Delhi Police arrested a 22-year-old man and recovered Rs 2.5 lakh of the robbed cash after cracking a Rs 16.5 lakh gunpoint robbery in Gandhi Nagar, an officer said on Sunday. Police arrested the accused, Alfaid, from the MCD parking near Jafrabad Metro Station in East Delhi and launched a manhunt for his two alleged absconding associates, Ashu and Krishna. According to police, the robbery took place on July 10 when the complainant, a collection executive with a private firm in Gandhi Nagar, had collected around Rs 16.5 lakh from various business establishments. "At around 4 pm, after reaching his office on a scooter, he was unloading a cash bag when two armed men on a scooter intercepted him," a senior police officer said. Police said one assailant wore a helmet while the other covered his face with a mask. They allegedly threatened the victim at gunpoint, snatched the cash bag containing Rs 16.5 lakh along with his Aadhaar card and bank passbook, and fled the scene. Police said they registered an FIR on July 11, after which a team was formed. During the investigation, police analysed CCTV footage and captured the scooter's front registration number after the accused removed its rear number plate to avoid identification. The officer said technical surveillance and field verification helped investigators trace the vehicle's ownership chain from its original owner to the latest purchaser, leading to Alfaid's arrest. During interrogation, Alfaid allegedly disclosed that co-accused Ashu planned the robbery and conducted reconnaissance of the complainant's cash collection routine. Ashu allegedly arranged firearms, tracked the victim's movements and remained in contact with the executors during the robbery. Police said Ashu allegedly retained Rs 6.5 lakh from the robbed amount, while Alfaid and Krishna each received Rs 5 lakh. Police recovered Rs 2.5 lakh in cash, the scooter used in the crime, a motorcycle allegedly purchased with the looted money, the scooter's removed rear number plate, and documents related to the motorcycle purchase. Police said raids are underway to arrest the remaining accused and recover the rest of the looted cash. PTI BM ASD ASD