Hanif, a Kerala-based businessman, used to visit Bengaluru to buy cigarettes for selling them in Kerala. For this, he availed of assistance from his friend, Manikantan. Manikantan earned some commission for this help. Through Manikantan, Hanif came to know of Anil, and made him his business partner. Hanif brought Rs 30 lac in cash during every visit. Knowing this, Anil, who was deep in debt, consulted a few friends and prepared pitch for robbery. On November 11, when Hanif arrived at the ITC godown near Horamavu, suddenly a group of men attacked them and fled with the money kept under the seats.

Policemen attached to Hennur station arrested Anil, who robbed his own business partner of Rs 23 lac, and then acted as if he was worried over slow progress of investigation. In addition to the partner, five of his accomplices including a juvenile delinquent have been taken into custody.

Hennur police crack Rs 23 lakh robbery, arrest 5

The case was solved when the prime suspect, Mohan, came under police radar. The police devised a plan to trap Mohan and asked the merchants to go out on lunch with him.

“Mohan ate only half a chapati that day and he was sweating throughout. The change in the behaviour and his body language further confirmed our suspicion. He was picked up and interrogated which led the accused, who have confessed to the crime,” said deputy police commissioner, Satish Kumar.

The arrested persons are Anil Kumar (32) from Tambuchetty Palya, M Mohan Reddy (26) from Munireddy Palya, Chandrashekhar (25) from Varthur, Naveen Kumar from Horamavu village and a minor. Another accused, Prashant, has succeeded in absconding.