₹2.9 crore heist near Mumbai: Robbers caught on CCTV; 3 police teams hunt for them

The police have got CCTV footage which identifies the accused.

The Navi Mumbai police probing the Rs2.9 crore robbery in Vashi said they were close to arresting the six robbers, including a woman.

A CCTV  grab shows three of the six robbers. (Hindustan Times)

They have got CCTV footage which identifies the accused. Three police teams have been sent outside Maharashtra to nab ‘repeat criminals’.

In a daring daylight robbery at an APMC vegetable dealer’s house in Vashi on Friday, cash and jewellery worth Rs 2.9 crore were robbed by the six robbers within 15 minutes. The robbers posed as courier staff to gain entry in the house at Kusum society, Sector 17, in Vashi, said the police.

Arun Menkudle deals in vegetables at Vashi APMC market and also lends money. At the time of the robbery, his 48-year-old wife, Vaishali, and daughter were at home. They were threatened at gun point and tied to chairs.

Vaishali told HT, “I and my daughter were at home. I opened the door and found a woman standing with a box which was wrapped in a gift paper. She told us that Arun sir has sent Diwali gift. While I was about to accept it, she asked for water. I went inside to get a glass of water. When I returned, I saw five men in the house. They threatened me and my daughter. They broke open cupboards and fled with cash and jewellery.”

Kisan Gaikwad, inspector of Vashi police station, said, “We have got CCTV footage and will soon crack the case. We have formed three teams which are on the lookout.” Sudhakar Pathare, DCP from Zone 1 (Vashi), said, “The victim had Rs1.9 crore in cash. He is ready to share the details about the cash with income tax officials too.”