Delhi: Robbers shoot dead two men on way to bank, flee with Rs 25 lakh

The robbers fired 12 rounds of bullets at the four men and then escaped with a bag containing Rs 25 lakh.

A businessman and his employee were shot dead when four men heading to a bank to deposit Rs 75 lakh in cash in a car were attacked by three bike-borne assailants in outer Delhi’s Narela on Monday.

Four men were attacked when they were heading to a nearby Bank of India branch to deposit two bags containing Rs 25 lakh and Rs 50 lakh each in Narela on Monday. (Reuters/Representative image)

Businessman Pankaj Goel and his accountant Harsh Bhatia died on the spot, while Amit Goel, the driver of the Maruti Eeco car in which the four were travelling, was shot in the arm.

The fourth occupant of the car, Rakesh, was unhurt. The police are yet to make any arrests but suspect the regular driver, who skipped duty on Monday, and Rakesh’s involvement in the incident.

The robbers fired 12 rounds of bullets and escaped with Rs 25 lakh.

The four men, all in their mid-30s, had left Pankaj’s house in Narela at 10.15 am. Pankaj’s father, Shyam, was following them on a scooter.

Narrating the sequence of events, his family members told the police that the four were heading to a nearby Bank of India branch to deposit two bags containing Rs 25 lakh and Rs 50 lakh each.

An eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, told Hindustan Times that one of the gunmen fired a bullet, which injured Amit. “Amit continued to drive. He did not stop but he could not control the vehicle and hit a pavement. The car stopped on the other side of the road,” he said.

“The gunmen then tried to snatch the two bags. Two of the three men at the back tried to stop the robbers but they fired another round. The bikers managed to take the smaller cash bag after shooting the two men,” he added.

Investigating officials said the two men received three bullets. Shyam, who saw the incident, rushed to the spot.

A police officer, who was attending another distress call in the same area, spotted the gunmen fleeing with the bag and chased them but they managed to flee.

Police rushed the three to the nearby Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra hospital, where Pankaj and Bhatia were declared brought dead. Amit is admitted at Max hospital in Shalimar Bagh.

DCP Rohini, Rishi Pal, said police registered a case at the Narela police station. Till Monday evening, the police were yet to identify the bikers. .

On the suspected role of the regular driver Rajesh, Pal said he had been working with the family for over a year and would regularly go to deposit money with Pankaj. On Monday, he called Pankaj, saying he would not be able to make it. “In his absence, Amit had to drive. We are questioning both Rakesh and Rajesh,” said Pal.

Pankaj’s brother-in-law, Sandeep, said it appeared the men were familiar with the route and were informed of the cash. Pankaj’s family deals in groceries and have local distribution rights of many branded household items, mostly edibles.