‘Mirchi Gang’ behind ₹14 lakh cash robbery in Ghaziabad busted

On the day of the incident, the gang members tailed the victim and made him board an auto driven by Abid Khan. Some of the gang members too got in as fellow passengers while the remaining members followed on bikes. They robbed the victim near the Vaishali culvert and sped off.

The Ghaziabad police on Monday claimed to have arrested nine members of the ‘Mirchi Gang’ which had robbed a 38-year-old cashier of ₹14 lakh while he was travelling in an autorickshaw near Vaishali on April 25. The man had come to Indirapuram from Yamuna Nagar in Haryana to collect cash on behalf of his employer.

The police said 4-5 persons were also employed as labourers with Oppo’s mobile unit in Noida and they stole nearly 200-250 mobiles phones from there which they sold to different persons in Lakhimpur Khiri near the Nepal border. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The police arrested Sonu, Akash, Bittu, Sunil, Ajay, Rahul Sing,h all hailing from Vijay Nagar, along with their accomplices Sachin alias ‘mirchimaar’ Shekhar and auto driver Abid Khan who hails from Khoda Colony. According to police, an employee of the shop where Kumar had come to collect cash was in touch with the gang and had told them about the large sum that Kumar was going to collect.

“That man has been identified but he has gone to his hometown on leave after the incident. He will be nabbed soon. Apart from him, the gang also roped in several men from Aligrah to commit the robbery. As a part of their modus operandi, they had also hired the auto driver and a person who threw chili powder into the eyes of the victim,” said Akash Tomar, superintendent of police (city).

On the day of the incident, the gang members tailed the victim and made him board an auto driven by Abid Khan. Some of the gang members too got in as fellow passengers while the remaining members followed on bikes. They robbed the victim near the Vaishali culvert and sped off.

“The gang last month also carried out a robbery in Vijay Nagar and had used chili powder in that heist as well. However, that victim has not lodged a complaint yet,” Tomar said.

Apart from the robbery, the police said 4-5 persons were also employed as labourers with Oppo’s mobile unit in Noida and they stole nearly 200-250 mobiles phones from there which they sold to different persons in Lakhimpur Khiri near the Nepal border.

The police also recovered ₹5.5 lakh cash, eight countrymade weapons, 20 cartridges, five bikes and an auto-rickshaw from the possession of the arrested accused.