The eighth and ninth accused in the ₹3.43-crore heist at the Juinagar branch of Bank of Baroda have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh.
Navi Mumbai Crime Branch (Unit III) officials arrested Shubham Verma on Monday and produced him in a court in Allahabad for transit remand. He was then presented before the Vashi court on Tuesday. The ninth accused, Adesh, was arrested on Tuesday and will be brought to Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
The police said Hajid Ali Subjar Ali Mirza Baig, 45, the main conspirator, invested ₹8 lakh to plan and execute the crime. Verma was among the men Baig hired to dig a 40-foot tunnel to the bank from a shop at Bhakti Residency in Sanpada and break open 30 lockers using gas cutters. Baig used the money to rent the shop and buy tools to dig the tunnel.
Baig’s sister, who is suspected to be in possession of three and half kg of stolen gold, is on the run. On Friday night, Baig tried to commit suicide at the NMMC Hospital in Vashi during a routine medical check. He smashed his head against a glass pane of a steel cupboard. Police officials said Baig was looking for a way to avoid being interrogated.
Vashi police have registered a case against Baig under Sections 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duties), 309 (attempt to suicide) and 427 (mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
