Two cops involved in Ghaziabad gold-heist, caught due to 'police-lingo'
What's the story
Ten days ago, a gang intercepted a car transporting gold in Sahibabad, UP, and took off with nearly 9kg of gold worth Rs. 3cr. Two men were in police uniform during the crime. Cops initially suspected they were gang members in disguise. But it was their language that made police suspect they were actually cops. All four involved been nabbed now.
Plans
The heist was planned one month ago
The robbery was planned a month ago, when a Mumbai-based gold company fixed March 18 as the date for transportation. Shailendra Yadav, an employee of a Meerut-based jeweler, found out about it and informed assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) Satendra Singh and Bhrampal Singh, all working together. They also roped in Ravi Kashyap, a driver. On March 18, they waylaid the car transporting gold in Sahibabad.
Theft
Victims thought cops were checking documents for gold transportation
They initially informed Manoj Jain, an employee of the Mumbai firm traveling with the car, that they were checking if the gold was officially transported or being smuggled. When they started thrashing him, he called up his employer to make them speak to his boss, but they slapped him and his phone fell down. However, the call didn't get disconnected and kept recording.
Clues
Phone call, sketches and information from jewelers helped cops
The phone-call hinted at cops' involvement. The ASIs were repeatedly threatening Jain with 'half counter,' a police term for injuring someone in action. Police scanned nearly 15L call records from the region and zeroed in on Yadav as a suspect. When they nabbed him, he told them of the ASIs' involvement. Police also had the suspects' sketches and helpful information from Meerut's jewelers.
Arrest
The ASIs had shifted the gold to their native place
Meanwhile, after the robbery, the ASIs of different police stations in Ghazipur and Kalyanpuri, who had taken medical leaves for the robbery, shifted the gold to Bhrampal's native place at Bhatona, Bulandshahr. The gold remained stocked in the Zen car they had used for the heist, also stolen. After arrest, they confessed they had carried out at least two similar robberies years ago.
Information
The two ASIs suspended for now, more action likely
Police have recovered 6kg of gold worth Rs. 2cr from their possession. For now, the two have been suspended. Further action will be taken after a thorough report, police said. Cops suspect more people were involved in the heist. A probe is on.