Delhi cash-van heist: Third accused nabbed in UP

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The third accused in the Rs.49 lakh Delhi cash-van robbery of Sep 25 has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh, police said Sunday.

Satender alias Chhotu, 25, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad, known as the city of bangles, Saturday evening.

"He was presented before a district court Sunday and sent to 14 days' judicial custody," said a police officer.

Two accused - Satish, 30, working with Cash Management Services as a driver under the false identity of Sanjay, and his cousin Shailender - were arrested Thursday from Etah in Uttar Pradesh.

"Satish and Shailender were arrested with the robbed Rs.49 lakh from Etah but Satender fled when he came to know of a police raid," said the officer.

As Satender works with a transport company named Akhilesh Transport, police learnt he was in Firozabad for delivering some materials from his truck and arrested him after laying a trap.

During interrogation, Satender told police his elder brother Shailender asked him to come to Delhi with Satish's bike from Etah.

"Satender reached Delhi with the bike Sep 22. As per the conspiracy, Satender and Shailender were chasing the cash van, being driven by Satish then," said the officer.

After driving away with the van Wednesday around 10.50 a.m., the three met in Regharpura locality of Karol Bagh where they transferred the money into two bags. Satish and Shailender then left for Etah on the motorcycle while Satender boarded a bus.

According to a police officer, three other employees of the Cash Management Services - Amit Mishra, Kapil and guard F.D. Sharma - were with Satish when the cash van left the main office of Axis Bank in Jhandewalan with Rs.83 lakh in the morning.

The van reached two ATMs at Jhandewalan and Faiz Road where Rs.5 lakh were deposited. At 10.45 a.m., it reached the ATM on Padam Singh Road in Karol Bagh to replenish the Axis Bank ATM with Rs.29 lakh.

After Kapil and Amit went inside the ATM, Sanjay asked Sharma to get down and help him reverse the van. As soon as the guard got out of the van, Satish accelerated and drove off.