Angadia loot: Victim turns out to be the mastermind

RAJKOT: In less than 24 hours of the Rs 7lakh cash robbery from an angadiya (courier) firm employee, the Rajkot police cracked the case and arrested five persons.
Investigation revealed that the courier firm employee Vikramsinh Kedarsinh, who had claimed to be the victim, turned out to be the key conspirator of the robbery. The others involved — Jignesh Vegda, Amarsinh Tambolia, Chetan Chavda and Ranjan Pande — were also arrested by Thursday afternoon and Rs 6.25lakh cash was recovered from them.
On Wednesday, Vikramsinh had claimed that when he left Soni Bazaar after collecting Rs 7 lakh from a firm on a two-wheeler, two unidentified men on a bike snatched the bag containing cash from him near Ramnathpara crematorium and fled.
Assistant commissioner of police (crime branch) Jaydeepsinh Sarvaiya said, “Soon after the incident we had blocked all roads leading out of the city and also informed the police of neighbouring district. We examined CCTV footages on the entire route from where the complainant (Vikramsinh) claimed the cash bag was snatched.”
“The registration number of the two wheeler used by robbers was difficult to read, but with the help of technical staff the owner was identified, which gave us a major clue,” added Sarvaiya. The two-wheeler used by the robber belonged to relative of one of the accused Jignesh Vegda. On questioning the vehicle owner, it was learnt that Vegda along with two others had boarded a state transport bus to Ahmedabad from Geenland crossing on the outaskirts of the city.
“We first located the bus with the help of GSRTC depot manager. Our team intercepted the bus near Dolia bypass ahead of Chotila and nabbed Vegda, Tambolia and Chavda,” said Sarvaiya, adding that Rs 6.25 lakh cash was also recovered from them.
On questioning the trio, they revealed that the mastermind for the robbery was Vikramsinh, who was in need of money. “Vikramsinh first approached Pade, who roped in Chavda. Later Chavda brought in Vegda and Tambolia,” added Sarvaiya.