Lucknow cash van loot and murder: Accused arrested from Rae Bareli after 6-day hunt, Rs 4.73 lakh recovered

After a six-day chase, the accused in the sensational loot and murder that took place near Lucknow’s Raj Bhawan Colony on July 30 was arrested from Lalganj in Rae Bareli district late on Saturday night, police said on Sunday. His wife was also detained to find out if she knew about the loot and murder, police said.

“Vineet Tewari was arrested from his sister’s house at Bholapur village, Lalganj, in Rae Bareli district late on Saturday night. His wife (Soni) was also present in a house nearby and Rs 4,73,900 was recovered from her,” inspector general of police (Lucknow range) Sujeet Pandey said.

Tewari’s brother-in-law Kavindra Pandey was also arrested on charges of helping Tewari escaped from his rented accommodation in New Indrapuri Colony, Bhola Khera, in Krishna Nagar area of Lucknow before a police raid.

On July 30, a cash van of Securitrans India Private Limited was looted in the high security zone, just opposite Raj Bhawan Colony, and in front of Axis Bank.

While the van guard, Indra Mohan, was shot dead, cash officer Umesh Sharma was injured in the loot. Ram Sewak, driver of the van, escaped unhurt.

Police claimed that during interrogation Tewari told them he was waiting outside Axis Bank opposite Raj Bhawan Colony on Monday last for a person whom he had been tracking for the last few days in order to loot cash.

The target, who was expected to arrive on a two-wheeler, did not turn up, Tewari said, according to the police.

Meanwhile, a cash van of Securitrans India Private Limited (SIPL), a private cash collection agency, reached the spot to deposit money, police said.

Its driver Ram Sewak and Tewari entered into a conversation after the van’s cash custodian Umesh Sharma went inside the bank to deposit some of the money, police said.

“It was during this conversation that Ram Sewak told Vineet (Tewari) casually that there was cash inside the van and so he could not allow him to sit inside the vehicle to escape the rain,” said IG Sujeeet Pandey.

“When he (Vineet) came to know about cash, he changed his plan and decided to loot cash from the van,” added Pandey.

In the meantime, the driver moved the cash van from the main road to a service lane alongside the boundary wall of Raj Bhawan so that the vehicle would not impede the flow of traffic.

“When driver got down from the van to relieve himself (after moving the vehicle to the service lane), the assailant (Vineet) followed and pointed his gun at the armed guard Indra Mohan, who was sitting inside the vehicle with the windows rolled down,” said Pandey.

“Sensing trouble, Indra Mohan opened fire on the assailant but he (Tewari) managed to duck the bullet. Thereafter, Tewari shot Indra Mohan twice,” Pandey said. The armed guard died later.

Vineet also shot Umesh Sharma, cash custodian of the SIPL, in a leg, when he tried to nab him outside Axis Bank. The van driver fled the spot, police said.

First Published: Aug 06, 2018 12:56 IST