New Delhi: Two days after a businessman’s wife was held hostage at knifepoint during a robbery at their residence in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, police apprehended eight people, including two minors.The accused, Naman Sharma (24), Deepak (24), Dinesh (38), Ansh Sharma (22), Sahil (31) and Aryan (22), along with two 17- year-olds, were nabbed after raids in Delhi, UP and Punjab.One of the juveniles, a former employee of the victim’s husband who was sacked recently, allegedly emerged as the mastermind, said Joint CP Vijay Singh.On Aug 19 around 11.35 am, the 54-year-old woman was alone at home. Hearing the lift, as she opened the door, two men near the staircase asked her for water. When she refused to open the door further, they allegedly forced their way inside and overpowered her. One of them pulled out a knife and threatened her.Two more accomplices entered the house. The accused allegedly tied her hands and feet with packing tape and gagged her while others ransacked the house for around 20-25 minutes before fleeing with cash and valuables.Police said the gang had conducted a month-long recce of the house, the family and their daily routine. A final recce was carried out a day before the robbery, with some of the accused staying at a hotel in Sawan Park to plan the operation. They first tried to gain entry by posing as delivery boys but, after failing, returned pretending to ask for water and forced their way inside when the door was opened.After the robbery, the accused allegedly gathered at Deepak’s residence in Dilshad Garden and divided part of the stolen cash before dispersing towards different locations, including Amritsar. Cops are also verifying their involvement in any other similar crime.Police recovered Rs 51.5 lakh cash and three mobile phones worth around Rs 2.3 lakh, including two iPhones and a OnePlus phone, which they purchased with the stolen money.
