Bank official, brother subdue armed robber

Pune: A 31-year-old bank official and his brother foiled an armed robbery attempt in their Pimple Gurav flat on Thursday night. The brothers immediately reported the incident to the Sangvi police, who arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect.

Police said the suspect, Sangboil Serto (40) — armed with a shotgun and a knife — posed as a delivery agent and barged into the brothers’ flat.

Inspector Amol Nandekar said the accused is originally from Churachandpur in Manipur. Living in Pune with his family for about eight years, Serto holds an Arts degree and was working for an IT company here. He was laid off eight months ago and has since been unemployed. Desperate for money, Serto decided to rob someone. “He went online and zeroed in on the manager of a public sector bank’s Pune Camp branch,” Nandekar said.

Serto observed the man for more than two months, even following him to the Pimple Gurav flat. “When he noticed the manager’s comfortable lifestyle, Serto decided to rob him. What he didn’t know was the manager was transferred to Haryana recently and his sons lived in that flat,” Nandekar said.

Around 7.15 pm on Thursday, Serto showed up at the flat, claiming to have a delivery for the manager, whose son opened the door. Serto asked for the manager’s ID proof. The son, an analyst at a bank, turned to fetch it when he sensed Serto entering the flat. He confronted Serto and was joined by his brother. In the ensuring scuffle, the brothers overpowered Serto, wrested his weapons, and called the police.