Beware! Fake IT men are out to rob yo

A robbery that took place in Mumbai in the ’80s — a man, posing as an income tax (IT) official, turned up with his five aides to raid a famous jewellery outlet and took away valuables — seems to have inspired a group of robbers in Delhi.

A robbery that took place in Mumbai in the ’80s — a man, posing as an income tax (IT) official, turned up with his five aides to raid a famous jewellery outlet and took away valuables — seems to have inspired a group of robbers in Delhi.

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Three similar incidents have been reported so far in the city where robbers, posing as IT officials, intercepted the victims and walked away with cash and jewellery.

The most recent incident took place in south Delhi on Thursday afternoon where an accountant at a sharebroking firm was intercepted by four men at Panchsheel flyover and robbed of cash worth Rs 2.48 crore.

“The robbers were in a white Corolla and were well-dressed. They hit the victim’s car from behind after which he stopped the car. The robbers went near the car and said, ‘we know you are carrying huge cash. We are from IT department and want to check the documents’. After this, the three men entered the car and pushed the driver to the back seat,” a police officer said.

The police said they are now verifying details from the Uttar Pradesh and North district police where robbers had applied a similar modus operandi. Several CCTV footages have shown a white Corolla following the victim’s car through the BRT corridor.

“Generally, the person becomes cautious after someone introduces himself as an IT official. They have the right to ask for identity cards but normally no one dares to do so,” the officer added. The police said that one of the accused drove the car towards Munirka and the other two took out guns.

“It was then, S Rai, the accountant, realised that they are robbers. At Munirka flyover, they threw Rai and the driver out of the car and fled with the cash and the car,” he further said.

Investigation has revealed that an insider could be involved since not many people knew Rai was carrying a huge amount. The police have asked the complainant to give the details of his current and ex-employees.

Sources said initially, the complainant did not mention about cash in the car but later gave a supplementary complaint.