Within 24 hours of Rs3.50 crore gold daylight robbery at a finance company’s office in Patiala, the district police on Sunday claimed to have solved the case with the arrest of six persons, including two women employees and one ex-employee. The police has recovered the stolen 11 kilograms of gold worth Rs3.5 crore. The CCTV footage helped crack the case.
Patiala Zonal IG Paramjit Singh Gill, addressing a Press conference on Sunday, said that six persons have been arrested in connection with the loot which took place at Muthoot Fincorp on Saturday at Triupuri, one of the busiest markets in the city. Gill said that gold jewellery weighing 11.26 kg worth Rs3.5 crore and Rs2.51 lakh in cash have also been recovered.
The accused, all residents of Patiala, have been identified as Gaurav Singla — company's former employee, Sukhwinder Singh — Gaurav's friend, Robin Rawal — an astrologer, Gurpreet Singh — former journalist, Venus Sharma and Navneet Kaur — the two women employees of the company.
Police also recovered a motorcycle, a scooter and .32 bore pistol along with three cartridges used in the crime. Prime accused Gaurav, a property dealer by profession, had planned to rob his former employer as he was facing huge debt and he involved Venus, Navneet and his three other friends in the plan.
Armed with pistol, four accused barged into the office on Saturday evening, tied three employees and locked them in a washroom before committing the crime. “Kingpin Gaurav had earlier worked in Muthoot Finance at Dharampura Bazaar in Patiala. He had left the job some time ago. While he was working there, he became a friend of woman employees, Venus and Navneet. After being lured by Gaurav, the two helped him in the crime,” the IG said.
During interrogation, Gaurav's accomplice Gurpreet Singh alias Dimple said that he was a trainee reporter with a vernacular newspaper. He got involved in the crime to make quick money. The third suspect, Robin Rawal runs a shop at Patiala bus stand, while Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, another suspect, was a close friend of Gaurav.