Six arrested for robbing businessman of Rs 23 lakh

The City police have arrested six persons for robbing a businessman of Rs 23 lakh recently. The police have seized Rs 22.43 lakh cash, a car, a bike and pepper spray bottle, used to commit the crime. 

The suspects have been identified as Mohan Reddy, 26,  Chandrashekhar, 25, Chetan Kumar, 26, Anil Kumar, 32, Naveen Kumar, 26 and Anil Kumar, 28. Another suspect, Prashanth, 26, is at large and the police have launched a search for him.

According to the police, Haneef, an industrialist from Kerala, would often come to the City to buy cigarettes and chocolates in large quantities. He would often request Anil Kumar, one of the suspects, to arrange for the products and provide him some other facilities. Anil Kumar involved in rice pulling crime—where a person sells an antique metal object for an exorbitant price promising that the metal would bring good fortunes if the rice is poured into it.

He had borrowed heavily for his dealings and was deep into financial crunch, said the police.

Anil Kumar knew that Haneef would often come to the City with Rs 20 lakh to 50 lakh in cash. He decided to steal Haneef’s money and repay the loans he had borrowed. He contacted Mohan Reddy and discussed his plan promising to share the booty. He asked Mohan to get his associates with a pepper spray bottle and chilli powder. He told Mohan that he would contact him (Mohan) once Haneef reached the spot, said the police.

Haneef contacted Kumar and told him that he would be visiting Bengaluru on November 11 and requested him to arrange the purchase of cigarettes.

Kumar told Haneef to meet him near Vijay Agency at Horamavu village. Accordingly, Haneef came there in his car along with his driver. He was waiting outside the godown of the agency as it was locked and Anil Kumar was not there, said the police.

Kumar contacted Haneef over phone to ascertain whether he had reached the spot.
On confirmation, Kumar called contacted Mohan and asked him to attack Haneef. The suspects came in a car and two bikes around 9.10 am, attacked Haneef and his driver, sprayed chilli powder and pepper on them and fled the spot with the cash.
Anil Kumar reached there some time after the attack. On being alerted, the police rushed there and a complaint was lodged.