Hours after robbers targeted a cash van in the upmarket Defence Colony area of South Delhi on Friday, the driver of another cash van carrying Rs.50 lakh allegedly drugged three replenishment agency employees and made off with the money after dumping them along with the vehicle in Jahangirpuri.
There were four persons in the vehicle, including two custodians and a security guard, when the incident took place. They collected Rs.81 lakh from Inderlok to replenish ATM machines. “On the way, driver Ompal Singh (35) offered them sweets laced with sedatives. After consuming the sweets, the three became drowsy,” said a police officer.
Before they lost consciousness — custodians Yogesh and Hemant and security guard Brijesh — managed to replenish three ATM machines of two banks. The last stop they made was a booth near Kirori Mal College on Delhi University’s north campus around 6.30 p.m.
“The victims are unable to recall what happened after that,” said the officer.
They were found in a sedated state inside the van near the Jahangirpuri metro station in the early hours of Saturday. The vehicle was damaged, suggesting that it had met with an accident while the driver was going towards Jahangirpuri.
After the victims regained consciousness, they narrated the incident to the police, revealing that the driver was missing with the remaining cash. However, the security guard’s firearm was found inside the vehicle.
Probe has revealed that Ompal, who lived at Nandnagri in the trans-Yamuna area, started driving the cash van about a month ago. Based on the details provided by the security agency, the police carried out searches and found that he had vacated the rented accommodation five days ago.
“Circumstantial evidence suggests the driver had planned the theft well in advance,” said the officer, adding a hunt has been launched. It is learnt that the security agency had hired the van from a transport company.
