Five days after the sensational 90-second robbery of Rs 15 lakh at Punjab National Bank at Kochar Road, police arrested a man who allegedly helped the four robbers by keeping a watch outside the bank. Three accused in the case are on the run while the mastermind behind the heist, Sukhwinder Singh, was arrested on Wednesday (August 3).
So far, police thought only four men were involved in the robbery.
But sustained interrogation of Sukhwinder revealed that another man was involved. Cops arrested 25-year-old Ajay Kumar alias Babbal of Ferozepur, and recovered Rs 50,000 from his possession. Ajay is a barber by profession.
Sukhwinder told police that they did a recce of the bank three days prior to the robbery on July 28 and Ajay was involved in it. On August 1, Sukhwinder along with Amandeep alias Sonu, Rakesh Kumar and Gurjant Singh - all residents of Ferozepur, entered the bank with their faces covered, while Ajay Kumar kept watch outside. After the bank was robbed, Ajay met them and collected his share of Rs 60,000.
Inspector Beant Juneja, station house officer, at police station division number 5, said all the accused assembled at Sukhwinder’s huse on July 31 to go through the final plan.
On August 1, Ajay reached the bank before all four of them. After executing the robbery, four of them - including Amandeep alias Sonu, Rakesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar and Gurjant Singh fled to Ferozepur, while Sukhwinder remained in Ludhiana. They stayed at a hotel in Zeera near Ferozepur on the night of August 1- the day they committed the crime.
{{/usCountry}}On August 1, Ajay reached the bank before all four of them. After executing the robbery, four of them - including Amandeep alias Sonu, Rakesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar and Gurjant Singh fled to Ferozepur, while Sukhwinder remained in Ludhiana. They stayed at a hotel in Zeera near Ferozepur on the night of August 1- the day they committed the crime.
{{/usCountry}}Inspector Juneja added that Ajay came to Ludhiana on Saturday, when the police arrested him from the bus stand. Two arrests have been made so far in the case, while three of the accused are still at large. Amandeep alias Sonu is already facing trial in several criminal cases. He was declared a proclaimed offender in at least four other cases.