Delhi Police foil fake robbery plot, 2 held

A 24-year-old cash collection employee allegedly staged a fake robbery of Rs 30 lakh of his employer’s money with the help of his associate, but the plan was foiled after CCTV footage and other evidence contradicted his account, police said on Saturday.

The complainant, Parveen Malhotra, and his alleged associate, Parveen alias Prem, were arrested, and the entire Rs 30 lakh cash, along with the bag and motorcycle used in the incident, has been recovered, they said.

According to police, Malhotra, a cash collection employee at Madan Lal Plastic in Tikri Kalan, collected Rs 30 lakh from three locations on his employer’s instructions on October 1.

While returning on his motorcycle, he allegedly told police that three men riding a black motorcycle stopped him near Zakhira Flyover, snatched his cash bag and injured him in the chest with a blade.

A PCR call regarding the alleged robbery was received at Moti Nagar police station on October 2, following which a team reached the spot and recorded Malhotra’s statement. A case was registered.

During the investigation, police noticed discrepancies in his account. His shirt did not have a corresponding cut despite the alleged injury to his chest, while CCTV footage from the stated location and time did not corroborate his version, police said.

Further verification of his route and his inconsistent statements raised suspicion, following which he was questioned at length.

During interrogation, Malhotra allegedly disclosed that he had planned the robbery to keep the Rs 30 lakh. He allegedly handed over the cash bag to his friend Parveen alias Prem at Keshav Puram Metro Station before injuring himself with a razor blade. He also allegedly damaged and threw away his mobile phone near Peeragarhi Metro Station to destroy evidence, police said.

Acting on the information provided by him, a police team raided Prem’s residence in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, and recovered the entire Rs 30 lakh.

The motorcycle allegedly used by Malhotra in the incident was also recovered, and both men were arrested, police said.

Malhotra, a resident of Paschim Vihar, is 24 years old and a permanent resident of Alwar in Rajasthan, while Prem, a 23-year-old resident of Bahadurgarh, Haryana, is his alleged associate, police said. Further investigation is underway.