A man who was allegedly involved in 12 cases of highway robbery in various places, including Delhi, and targeted cash vans of banks, has been arrested, police said today.
The accused, Venkat Rao alias Venky alias Raju and his gang mainly targeted vans carrying cash for filling up ATMs.
"He used to meticulously plan the heist. His gang used to first select the target van for robbery, then tail it to see its route and areas/ATMs which were to be covered by the cash van. Then the gang used to take a room on rent within five kilometres radius of the van's route," said DCP (Special Cell) Sanjeev Yadav.
The gang members, riding motorcycles, then waylaid the cash vans.
The armed gang looted the vans after overpowering the driver and guard. After the heist they used to stay in the rented accommodation for five days and not venture out. Once things calmed down, they escaped with the booty, he said.
The Special Cell received input about Venkat's presence in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area.
"He was wanted by police of different states in cases of cash van robberies in Delhi, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh and was eluding arrest since 2014.
"On March 25, a specific input was received that he will be coming to Swaroop Nagar for meeting one of his associates to plan a robbery," said the officer.
A loaded pistol with three live cartridges was recovered from his possession, added the officer.
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