4 loot wine shop at gunpoint, flee with Rs 1 lakh

Four unidentified men allegedly robbed a wine shop in Parel at gunpoint on Sunday making away with Rs 1.45 lakh.

Four unidentified men allegedly robbed a wine shop in Parel at gunpoint on Sunday making away with Rs 1.45 lakh.

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"The cash robbed was the day's collection of the shop," said shop owner Gulab Kukreja.

The Bhoiwada police and Kukreja said the four were carrying guns, choppers and knives. They barged into London Wines and Stores located near ITC Maratha Hotel at 10.20 pm.

"The four held the manager and two employees at gun point and tied their hands. One of them broke the lock of the cash drawer and emptied it," said Deepak Dhoke (26), an employee.

Dhoke said the four seemed to be in their 20s. "They spoke to each other in code like professional robbers," he said. After the robbers fled in the same taxi they had come in, Dhoke untied himself and phoned Kukreja.

"We are in the process of recording employees' statements and preparing robbers' sketches from the description given by witnesses," said Vikram Patil, senior inspector.

Kukreja said this was not the first time his shop had been robbed. "In February robbers had broken open the shop after midnight. I had registered a complaint with the police but till date there have been no arrests in the case," he said.

An officer said last time there were no witnesses but this time the robbers have been seen by the employees.