DCB arrests two in 35L loot case

Surat: The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of Surat police arrested two accused in the Rs 35 lakh loot case and recovered Rs 19.13 lakh in cash, officials said on Tuesday. Police are searching for two more accused who fled to another state with the remaining Rs 15 lakh.According to police, four persons had looted the cash from the SUV of Surat-based builders while they were travelling to Kosamba after withdrawing money from an angadia firm in the Mahidharpura area on Feb 19.Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Bhavesh Rojia said the arrested accused were Ajay Bhogekar alias Motiya (35) and Nilesh Bhogekar alias Lilesh (55), both residents of Chharanagar in Ahmedabad. "They were arrested from the Abrama–Velanja Road in Surat while they were returning to Ahmedabad. After committing the crime, they had fled to Shirdi in Maharashtra. We recovered Rs 19.13 lakh in cash and a two-wheeler from their possession," Rojia said, adding that efforts are on to nab the remaining accused.As per the complaint, Shivratna Puniya and his brother were travelling to Kosamba on the evening of Feb 19 after withdrawing Rs 35 lakh from a angadia firm in Mahidharpura. The cash was kept in a white cloth bag placed on the rear seat of their Fortuner vehicle.When the SUV reached the stretch between Ramnagar crossroads and Mora Bhagal crossroads, two unidentified men on a black motorcycle deliberately rammed into the vehicle and began arguing with the brothers. Taking advantage of the situation, two other accomplices broke the window glass of the SUV and fled with the cash bag.A case was registered at the Rander police station, following which multiple teams of the DCB and Rander police were formed to trace the accused.Police said both arrested men are history-sheeters, with a total of 13 cases registered against them.