Two more arrested for SBI cash van robbery

Noida: Police on Monday claimed to have solved the Rs40 lakh cash van robbery case with the arrest of two robbers, who were absconding since February 19 — the day the crime was committed.
While the main accused in the case —Nanhe Khan — was arrested on the day of the crime after locals managed to overpower him, his accomplices — Anil and Gajendra — were arrested from Kulesra area in Greater Noida on Sunday night during a special drive — Operation Gherabandi— which was carried out to nab traffic violators.

“Operation Gherabandi was carried out to nab traffic rule violators. For this we had set up check posts at the borders of the district. Anil and Gajendra, who were riding a bike, heading towards Noida, and were asked to stop for routine checking. On identifying the two, we arrested Anil while Gajendra tried to flee and jumped off a bridge and got his right leg fractured. He is undergoing treatment at a city hospital,” said Vaibhav Krishna, SSP of Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Cops recovered Rs 4.4 lakh of the looted cash from their possession. It may be noted that the robbery had taken place on February 19 in outside an ATM booth Sector 82, when two armed men on a bike attacked the custodians of an SBI cash van and robbed them of Rs 40 lakh.

Explaining the robbery, SSP Krishna said, “Nanhe Khan and Gajendra were on a bike and had snatched the bag containing Rs 40 lakh cash from the bank employees after firing at them. Anil was asked to stand nearby to keep a watch. As locals tried to foil the robbery bid, Nanhe fell from the bike along with the cash bag. Gajendra and Anil managed to grab a few bundles of the cash and flee from the spot, while police reached the spot and nabbed Nanhe and recovered Rs 19.65 lakh from his possession.”

When asked about the remaining loot amount, the SSP said,” Till now we have recovered around Rs 24 lakh from their possession. As the cash bag had fallen on the ground, it is possible that a few bystanders might have picked up a few bundles. We are interrogating the accused and hope to recover more of the loot amount.”

According to the police, Gajendra had surrendered before a city court on February 22 in an older case and had been given bail on February 26. However, following the bail he had gone absconding and raids were being conducted at his possible hideouts to arrest him. “Anil and Gajendra are residents of Bulandshahr and have at least seven cases each of robberies registered against them that they have committed in the last five years at various police station of Noida and Greater Noida,” an officer said.