Driver who fled with Rs 22.5 crore held

A day after biggest cash heist took place in south Delhi, the driver of the cash van who had fled with nine boxes containing Rs 22.5 crore was arrested on Friday from a godown in Okhla, just a few kilometres from the crime scene. The cash has been recovered as well, said the police.

The accused, identified as Pradeep Shukla, had driven away with the cash van on Thursday afternoon. Sources said that during interrogation it came to the fore that he was not being paid his salary on time which prompted him to commit the crime, the claims the police has not verified yet. “He has told us that he had not planned the heist and that it happened suddenly, given the huge amount of cash,” said the sources.

After the heist, Shukla, had allegedly taken shelter at a godown of electrical wires in Okhla Industrial Area. “Shukla knew the caretaker of the godown and asked him for shelter in the night, telling him that he would leave early today. The caretaker was, however, found to have no involvement in the crime,” said a senior police official.

Deputy commissioner of police (southeast district) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said on Friday that they had received a call on Thursday afternoon about the incident and on the basis of a complaint filed by SIS cash services branch manager Dinesh Kumar, the employer of the accused, registered an FIR.

The complainant had stated that the cash van bearing registration number DL-1LK-9189 driven by Pradeep Shukla, along with gunman Vinay Patel, left from Vikaspuri with nine boxes containing Rs 22.5 crore for their Okhla office. “At about 3.41 pm, Vinay Patel de-boarded the van to urinate when Pardeep fled with the vehicle,” said the DCP.

Vinay reached his Okhla office at about 4.30 pm and narrated the incident to branch in-charge Anand Kumar. During investigation, Pradeep’s Kotla Mubarakpur address was found as fake, the police officer added. Later, it was learnt that his permanent address is in Balia in Uttar Pradesh and his wife stays in Mau in UP. “Several teams were sent to conduct raids at his and his wife’s native places and other possible hideouts,” said the DCP, adding, “Besides, keeping in mind the fact that such a big amount and huge boxes could not have been carried too far in such short time, the whole area around the crime spot was combed.”

Sources said that Shukla had spent around Rs 11,500 from the stolen amount to pay off for some articles purchased in connection with the heist, roasted chicken for dinner and alcohol.

The police added that after arresting the driver they are now looking into negligence on part of the security firm. “As per rules one cash van should not carry more than `10 crore. However, in this case the amount was more than double,” said the cops, adding, “We are looking into all these details minutely.”