Lucknow: Aashiana Police busted a purported robbery of Rs 1.5 crore, revealing that the complainant himself had orchestrated the crime to misappropriate money belonging to his employer.Five persons have been arrested, including the complainant, while police have recovered Rs 1.23 crore of the allegedly looted amount.According to DCP (central) Arpit Vijayvargiya, the case was initially reported as a robbery on Oct 24 by Pragnesh Kumar, a Gujarat resident. He had claimed that he was transporting his employer’s money from Gujarat to Lucknow when armed men on two motorcycles intercepted his vehicle near the Aurangabad underpass and fled with approximately Rs 1.5 crore.Based on his complaint, an FIR was registered at Aahiana police station on Oct 25.Police examined CCTV footage from the alleged crime scene and adjoining roads. The footage and other findings revealed that the people suspected of involvement in the robbery had prior links with the complainant, raising doubts about the version of events initially provided by him. When investigators subjected Pragnesh to sustained questioning, he allegedly confessed to having orchestrated the robbery with the assistance of his associates to misappropriate the businessman’s money.Police arrested Sumit Yadav, a resident of Firozabad; Satyam, a resident of Mainpuri and Pragnesh Kumar, the complainant. A police team was later dispatched to Gujarat, where two more accused, identified as Jay Patel and Yash Kumar, were arrested.Police recovered Rs 59 lakh, a gold coin, a mobile phone and two motorcycles from Sumit and Satyam. Investigators said the accused had allegedly purchased the motorcycles using the money obtained through the robbery. Jay and Yash were also found in possession of Rs 64 lakh and the vehicle allegedly used in the crime. The total recovery in the case stands at approximately Rs 1.23 crore. Police also recovered an SUV, an iPhone, a country-made pistol and cartridges.Investigators have identified the alleged role of Chirag Singh Yadav, a resident of Firozabad, and efforts are underway to trace him. Police said Sumit Yadav has five previous FIRs registered against him, while Satyam has three criminal cases registered against him.
