JOIN USRetired DySP, aide arrested in realtors' robbery case
A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police and his former informant were arrested on Wednesday for robbing Rs 83 lakh from a group of realtors on November 24.
The suspect, Babu Noronha, a resident of Electronics City, retired as a DySP with the State Intelligence Unit about four years ago. He was decorated with President’s Police Medal for Gallantry in 2004.
Another suspect in the case Lohith, 36, from Ullal near Kengeri was Noronha’s informant while he was in service. “We have arrested Noronha and Lohith. There is information about the money. We will recover it shortly,” DCP (South) Dr S D Sharanappa told DH.
The police have detained one more person who is still being interrogated. The police refused to divulge his name as there was no clarity about his role. It has emerged in the initial probe Noronha was the mastermind of the robbery.
He retained about Rs 63 lakh with him and disbursed the remaining Rs 20 lakh among his associates. Lohith had pledged gold ornaments with Muthoottu Mini Financiers Pvt Ltd (MMFPL). He used Rs 10 lakh given by Noronha, paid it to MMFPL and claimed the ornaments.
Noronha is found to have acted as a commission agent in the robbery. He targeted realtors who expected demonetised notes and commission for exchanging the new currency notes.
Based on Noronha’s instructions, Akshay, another aide of Noronha, contacted Shivaramu, a realtor, and told him he had Rs 1 crore worth demonetised notes.
He also told Shivaramu that he (Akshay) would give the demonetised notes in return for the new notes of denomination Rs 100 and Rs 2,000.
Akshay claimed that besides demonetised notes, he would pay Shivaramu 20% commission for exchanging the notes. Shivaramu thought that he could get Rs 20 lakh as commission for exchanging the new notes. He roped in about 20 of his friends, all realtors. The realtors decided to collect new notes as they thought they could earn some money without much sweat.
The notes were stored at the house of realtor Sathish on 23rd Main Road in Jayanagar. Shivaramu requested Akshay to meet him at Sathish’s residence and collect the notes.
Akshay claimed that he would pay the commission only after verifying the notes. He went to Sathish’s house and pretended to call up his friends requesting them to bring Rs 80 lakh.
Within no time, Lohith and two others barged inside the house posing as CCB police and demanded documents for the money. However, the realtors failed to produce the documents. The trio transferred the notes to their car and took Sathish and Shivaramu with them. They abandoned the duo on the way and fled.
Babu Noronha was inside the car when the realtors were taken away. One of the realtors was in touch with Lohith. Based on his inputs, the police detained Lohith and on interrogation, he revealed Noronha’s role.