Main accused in Rs 51 lakh cash van heist arrested

The main accused in the Rs 51 lakh cash van heist here in September last year has been arrested by a special team of Delhi police.
Ompal Singh, 35, who was the driver of the cash van, had on September 28, 2012 allegedly fled with the money after drugging the three bank employees, including a gunman, who were accompanying him.
Delhi police had announced an award of Rs one lakh on his arrest.
Singh was arrested from Haiderpur area of North Delhi yesterday after a trap was laid for him based on a tip-off that he would arrive in that area to meet his sister, DCP (North West) P Karunakaran said.

A joint team of Delhi police apprehended Singh after a brief chase as he had refused to surrender, he said.
Earlier in October last year the cops had laid a trap for Singh after they had received information that his wife would visit a Finance Company at Durga Puri here where she has an account, Karunakaran said, adding while police had arrested his wife, Geeta, Singh managed to escape.

Police had been trying to trace Singh for some time and his friends and relatives were being closely watched, he said.
During his interrogation, it was revealed that though he is a permanent resident of Kanjhawla area here, for the last 7-8 years he had not been seen in the area, the official said.

Singh also disclosed during questioning that the plan to rob the cash from the van, after drugging his colleagues, was hatched by him and his wife and in furtherance of this plan he had offered sweets laced with sedatives to his colleagues.
After decamping with the cash in the van, he had abandoned the vehicle at Jahangirpuri Metro Station with his unconscious colleagues inside it, the police official said.
During his interrogation it was also found that he has spent time behind bars for his alleged involvement in cases of rape, dacoity, robbery and murder, the official said.