Rs 70 Lakhs looted from car in broad daylight at busy spot in Dadar

A moneylender was robbed of Rs 70 lakh in broad daylight yesterday when a vehicle carrying four robbers intercepted the car in which two of his employees were carrying bags of cash.

According to the police, the four accused intercepted the chauffeur-driven blue Hyundai Verna that Nilesh Bharani's employees were using to transfer cash from a nearby residence to the office. One of the accused threatened them at gunpoint, one waited in the vehicle, while the two others attacked the car and removed the booty.

The incident took place in the bustling area opposite Karishma Bar and Restaurant near Dadar station. Ashwin Rathod and Mitbaukar work for the Bharani Brothers. They were carrying Rs 70 lakh in cash to the head office at Shardha Palace in Dadar.

This was part of their daily routine every night, they would collect the money from their office and drop it off at the residence of another employee who lives nearby, next to Sunshine plaza. They did this in order to keep the cash safe from robbers who might loot the deserted office at night. Every morning, they would pick up the cash from the employee's home, and drop it back at the office.

Senior Inspector Vikram Patil from Bhoiwada police station said, "They were on their way to the office as usual with the cash when their car was intercepted." The unidentified accused have been booked under Section 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance) of the Indian Penal Code.

Eyewitnesses speak

The accused were already at the spot waiting opposite Karishma Bar for the arrival of the vehicle. As soon as it approached, they blocked it with their car and attacked it.u00a0- Sanjay Ghag, who sells flowers

While the incident occurred, everyone was terrified. But when they realised that a robbery was in progress, they started following the car. One man even followed the car on his bike, but gave up after a while.u00a0- Vilas Ausadkar